Russia claimed on Sunday that its forces had struck a Ukrainian missile depot and other targets over the past day, while Ukraine reported offensive operations against a Russian refinery and port.
According to a report from Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian forces took control of a settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region within the last 24 hours, and continued to carry out strikes in multiple directions, hitting Ukrainian missile depot, drone production and storage facilities, temporary deployment points, and other locations.
It added that Russian air defense systems shot down three HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system rounds and 172 drones over the past day.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that 85 clashes occurred along the frontlines as of Sunday afternoon, with 31 of those taking place in Pokrovsk.
In a coordinated operation early Sunday, Ukrainian troops, together with the Main Intelligence Directorate under the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, attacked an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region. The extent of the damage from the strike is currently under assessment.
Also on Sunday, the governor of Leningrad Region in northwest Russia confirmed that the port of Ust-Luga caught fire following a drone attack. Ten drones were destroyed over the port on Sunday morning, and debris from the downed drones ignited a fire at one of the docks.
The fire had been extinguished, and initial reports indicate no casualties, according to the governor.
The Ukrainian military confirmed on Sunday that its forces targeted a facility at Ust-Luga port, which is the largest port in the Baltic Sea region and Russia's second largest port.
Russia claims strikes on Ukrainian missile depot, Ukraine reports hitting Russian refinery, port
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
