Ukraine executed a covert drone attack deep inside Russian territory. Operation Spider’s Web, as it’s known, was a series of coordinated drone strikes that targeted the Russian Air Force’s “Long-Range Aviation assets”.

Even as it pounds Ukraine, Russia is expanding its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones where a Kremlin-controlled armed force is on the rise.

"Action from America, which has the power to force Russia into peace," he continued. "Action from Europe, which has no alternative but to be strong. Action from others around the world who called for diplomacy and an end to the war -- and whom Russia has ignored. There must be strong pressure for the sake of peace."

Express takes an in-depth look at the RAF's strengths, weaknesses and how it stacks up against Russia's air force.

Former Ukrainian Internal Affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko, on X: "It is reported that for the first time in history, an F-16 has shot down a Russian Su-35 'Flanker...Thankful to Ukrainian Allies for providing us with the tools!"

The head of Nato will today announce that the military alliance needs to increase air and missile defence spending by 400 per cent.

When the chief of the local fire department was called to a scene of a Russian strike in the central Ukrainian city of Pryluky overnight, he and his brigade found five people were killed and nine injured after a drone hit a residential building.

Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb took out more than a third of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers, Kyiv officials said.