Russia’s central bank has left its benchmark interest rate at a record 21%, holding off on further increases despite high consumer inflation fueled by the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.

Losing Syrian military bases would hurt the Kremlin’s attempts to project power in the Middle East and Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied on Thursday that Russia's nine-year intervention in Syria had been a failure, but expressed concern about Israel's military operations there since the toppling of his ally Bashar al-Assad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia was winning in Ukraine and wasn't "weakened" by the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally. Russia was negotiating with all major groups in Syria to retain its key naval and air bases in the country,

Russian authorities say six people have been killed including a child, in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region. The region's acting governor added that 10 people were taken to hospital following the attack on the town of Rylsk. A cultural centre, fitness complex, school and homes were damaged, the governor added.

The Russian leader had mockingly challenged Ukraine’s Western allies to a missile “duel,” testing their air defenses, during his annual year-end news conference.