Russia has suffered 1,240 casualties in just 24 hours, in one of the most disastrous periods in Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it has been claimed.

       Kyiv also said it had destroyed 18 Russian tanks, 133 vehicles and fuel tanks as well as 44 artillery systems in an explosion.

       Ukraine drones also wiped out air defence systems and ammunition depots.

       Ukraine shared footage from the frontline which captured a Russian tank erupting into flames as fighting on the front lines continues.

       In the clip, the Kremlin tank is seen smothered by a thick cloud of black smoke and fire, moments before a huge explosion tears through the vehicle as soldiers scramble to escape.

       Taking to X Defence of Ukraine said: “Tanks, artillery systems, air defense systems, and ammunition depots—all became targets for Ukraine drones. And now, these targets are destroyed.”

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       Russia's defence ministry said Ukrainian troops attempted a counterattack on Thursday in Russia's western Kursk region but were repelled by Russian forces.

       Today marks six months since Ukrainian forces launched an audacious incursion into the Russian region of Kursk.

       The Kremlin has since taken back significant swathes of its own land, however Ukrainian forces are still capable of launching significant attacks in Kursk region as Russia faces a tough challenge to dislodge them.

       The success of the Ukrainian military campaign has strained President Putin’s armed forces. Putin's army has to date suffered a total of 845,310 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, according to Zelensky's army.

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       Russia's mechanised units have also taken an absolute hammering as they struggle to adapt to drone warfare.

       Ukraine claims to have destroyed 9,965 tanks and 20,737 armoured fighting vehicles, forcing the Kremlin to use up its stock of Cold War-era weaponry as stocks appear to be running low.

       The White House is stepping up its efforts to bring about a ceasefire and is expected to reveal the blueprint of its plans next week at the Munich Security Conference.

       This comes after it was revealed that preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are at an "advanced stage", Russian state news agency RIA has claimed.

       Senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, was quoted that the meeting could take place soon, as early as in February or March.