Russia reported on Friday that its forces conducted cluster strikes on Ukrainian targets over the past week, while Ukraine claimed to have attacked a Russian military logistics hub on Thursday.
In a weekly report, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that over the past week, Russian forces carried out four cluster strikes using precision weapons and attack drones. These strikes targeted Ukrainian energy and transportation facilities, ammunition depots, drone operator training centers, storage and launch sites for remote-controlled drones, as well as temporary deployment points for Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries.
According to the report, the Russian military had gained control over four settlements in the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, the Russian air defense system had shot down over 1,600 fixed-wing drones.
Also on Friday, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces reported that a strike targeting a logistics hub of Russia's 810th Separate Marine Brigade in the Kursk region was carried out on Thursday night. The strike destroyed ammunition depots, a material storage base, and a concealed location for weapons and military equipment belonging to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Ukrainian forces were continuing their counteroffensive operations in Donetsk.
The National News Agency of Ukraine, citing a Ukrainian military commander, reported that Russian troops had so far failed to gain control of Kupiansk, and Ukrainian forces were reinforcing their defensive positions in the area.
Russia launches cluster strikes on Ukrainian targets, Ukraine attacks Russian military logistics hub
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
