Putin's 'hundreds of millions of pounds a-day' war machine eats up Moscow's war budget almost as fast as he sacrifices 1,000 troops a-day - but Ukraine faces bitter winter

A SINGLE Kremlin bigwig stood up to Russian president Vladimir Putin on the second day of the war with Ukraine. An extraordinary account has emerged of one of mad Vlad’s closest allies

Putin said at an annual meeting with top military officers that Moscow will move to expand a “buffer security zone” along the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year Q&A session is likely to send a signal to the United States and European powers over his appetite for peace or more war in Ukraine.

Dmitri N. Kozak had worked with President Vladimir V. Putin for three decades before quitting in September. His associates described his break with the Russian leader.

The annual event gives ordinary Russians a chance to question their leader, with queries expected on an end to the Ukraine war and boosting the economy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed without evidence that Russian forces have taken control of Ukrainian cities Pokrovsk and Vovchansk.

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as "young pigs" did not engage over U.S. proposals for a peace settlement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declares Russia's Ukraine war goals will be achieved through negotiations or military force as diplomatic efforts.