While the earlier warnings were largely vague, they grew increasingly more detailed — including specific threats that Ukraine would try to seize the town of Sudzha — a warning that was realized after Ukraine captured it in August.

Russia said on Friday that its army would regain control of its Kursk region "in a timely manner", declining to say how soon this could be achieved. Ukraine on Aug. 6 launched the biggest foreign attack on Russia since World War Two,

Photos of the Kursk nuclear power plant (NPP) published by Ukrainian media confirm that Kyiv has not abandoned its plans to strike the facility, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman announced.