The United States should take into account Moscow's warnings on risks of further escalation around the conflict in Ukraine, Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Friday.

Ukrainian drones have struck a large military depot in a town deep inside Russia overnight, causing a huge blaze and prompting the evacuation of residents.

Moscow’s troops have retaken a few villages in a border area that Kyiv’s forces invaded last month and are also advancing steadily in eastern Ukraine.

The strike came as a senior US diplomat said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recently announced — but still confidential — plan for winning the war "can work" and help end the conflict that is now in its third year.

Ukrainian drones hit an ammunition depot inside Russia this week, the latest attack targeting military facilities deep within the country.

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Ukraine said Thursday its air defenses shot down all 42 drones that Russia used in overnight attacks targeting regions across the country. Ukraine’s air force said it also shot down a Russian guided missile.

Ukraine ’s drone attack succeeded in “ wip [ing] off the face of the Earth ” a major Russian weapons depot in the Tver region, Ukrainian intelligence sources said. Sources in Ukraine’s SBU security service told The Kyiv Independent that “an extremely powerful detonation began” at the Russian defence ministry’s warehouse in Toropets following a drone strike.