U.S. seizure of Russian tanker marks rare escalation in sanctions enforcement against "dark fleet," but experts say move unlikely to trigger confrontation.

First came Russia’s “turtle tank”, a metal shed rumbling across the battlefield. Then Ukraine laughed at the so-called “hairy tank”, coated in long, wavy metal wires.

Ukraine's commander in chief said December was the first month that its drones "neutralized" roughly as many Russians as were called up.

Russia has strongly condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker. It heralds a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington that could spread to other areas and affect President Donald Trump’s efforts to persuade Russia to end its nearly four-year war in Ukraine.

With a reported range of up to 5,500 kilometres, the Oreshnik ballistic missile theoretically puts much of Europe within reach.

Moscow used its hypersonic 'Oreshnik 'missile to target critical infrastructure near Lviv in western Ukraine. Its use of the missile is being seen as more about political messaging, than battlefield strategy.

The Kremlin has not commented on Trump's Greenland ambitions, with analysts saying they serve a bigger purpose for Moscow.

Russia's FSB said Laurent Vinatier was freed in exchange for Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian who was wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in ransomware attacks.