Thousands of protesters in the Slovak capital held banners and chanted slogans on Friday accusing Prime Minister Robert Fico of dragging the country towards Russia after he met President Vladimir Putin last month amid a gas dispute with Ukraine.

Russian forces have used reconnaissance drones to support their deep-strike operations in Ukraine. This has been a major headache for Kyiv.

Russia's ability to continue fighting in the war with Ukraine may be in jeopardy as it suffers highest rate of military personnel losses in the Ukraine war.

At the event, Ukraine presented various drones, including the Shrike and Vampire, that are used in combat against Russia. On October 19, 2023, Shrike drones attacked a Russian convoy. A total of 35 drones were deployed, destroying eight tanks and four infantry fighting vehicles valued at $19 million.

Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that his troops were ‘actively destroying Russian military potential’ in the Kursk region of Russia

The claim, which drew no response from Ukrainian authorities, came a day after the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces had pressed new attacks in Russia’s Kursk border region.

Ukraine has largely been driven out of Kurakhove, a battered but strategic town in the Donbas, Russia said. Kyiv’s forces were pressing a renewed offensive in southern Russia.

The Kremlin has welcomed a meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump just days after he claimed Vladimir Putin wanted to sit down with him.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there could be progress on setting up the meeting after Trump is sworn in as US president on 20 January.

Fighting intensifies near Pokrovsk and many have speculated whether Russia can sustain the war effort in Donetsk due to a loss of soldiers and equipment.