Elsewhere, the president of Finland warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine is unlikely before the spring and urged European allies to keep up support.

Moscow’s attacks on gas supplies, the main source of warmth for most Ukrainian households, could plunge millions into the cold.

Thousands of miles from the frontlines in Ukraine, where the Kremlin's war machine is steadily grinding forward, Russian forces face a potentially catastrophic situation in the West African nation of Mali as Al-Qaeda-loyal militants close in on the capital.

Nadia Pishko's childhood was about survival. Growing up in Lviv, Ukraine she experienced mass starvation in the 1930's. And during World War II, she and her family fled the country as the Germans and Russians closed in.

Years of conflict have taken their toll and the war of attrition is continuing on the homefront - but Ukrainians are fighting back hard by trying to keep morale high

Ukraine is working to resume the exchange of prisoners with Russia, hoping for the release of 1,200 Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his Security Council chief said.

Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia, potentially bringing home 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners.

Ukrainian athlete Anastasiia Kurashvili has won the gold medal in the women's individual event at the European Championships in aerobic gymnastics.