Russia gains control of Ukrainian settlement, while Ukraine repels multiple Russian attacks

Russia said on Thursday that its forces had gained control of a settlement in Ukraine, while Ukraine reported on the same day that it had repelled multiple Russian attacks.

In its daily briefing on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian military targeted several military airports, missile and artillery depots in Ukraine, shooting down 200 Ukrainian drones.

The ministry also stated that Russian forces had gained control of the settlement of Zhuravka in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that there were 149 clashes in frontline areas over the past 24 hours.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled 19 attacks from Russian troops.

Over the past day, Ukrainian forces carried out 11 attacks on energy facilities in various regions of Russia.

Russia gains control of Ukrainian settlement, while Ukraine repels multiple Russian attacks

The Chinese yuan strengthened to a 32-month high against the dollar on Monday, after the People's Bank of China lifted its official guidance rate.

The onshore yuan rose to a high of 6.97 per dollar at 1245 GMT, the strongest level since May 2023. Meanwhile, its offshore counterpart last fetched 6.96 per dollar.

The central bank set the midpoint rate at 7.0108 per dollar -- the firmest level since September 2024.

The yuan gained 4.5 percent against the dollar in 2025, marking its best annual performance since 2022, supported by a broadly weaker greenback and increased year-end foreign exchange settlements by Chinese exporters.

Chinese yuan hits 32-month high against US dollar