Kherson enjoys brief respite under localized ceasefire

■ Steady

Russia says over 600 drones launched at Moscow as Kherson ceasefire holds

Russia says more than 600 drones were launched towards Moscow overnight into Thursday, the latest in a series of major drone assaults on the Moscow region. In Kherson, a localized ceasefire announced by US first lady Melania Trump has given the city a brief break from Russian drones and artillery. A Russian drone attack on Kharkiv late Tuesday forced elderly women and children to evacuate their homes.

• The ceasefire first set for Oleshky was extended across the Kherson region on Tuesday, and Russia and Ukraine say no breaches have been reported.
• Despite the local truce, Zelenskyy says Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones at Ukraine on Tuesday, with at least 15 injured in Kyiv. Strikes also hit a major bridge in the capital.
• The leaders of Norway and Finland held a call with Putin, the first direct contact between European leaders and Putin in more than a year.
• The US is considering lifting sanctions on Russia's flagship investment fund, and UN-mandated investigators said on Monday that Russia committed war crimes by attacking civilians and energy infrastructure.