Overnight tensions: Ukraine advances into Russia, Kursk region under fire

While you were sleeping, here's what world agencies reported overnight from Thursday to Friday.

• The Pentagon commented on Ukraine's attacks in the Kursk region of Russia. The Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, stated that these actions are "consistent with our policy, and we have supported Ukraine from the very beginning to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border and for the need for crossfires." She emphasized that Ukraine is acting to "protect themselves from attacks." – "I'm not going to draw, you know, a circular map here for you of where they can and can't strike, but we've been very clear with the Ukrainians," she added.

• The Russian authorities announced a massive drone attack on Lipetsk that resulted in explosions and damage to an energy infrastructure facility. A state of emergency has been declared in the Lipetsk region.

• The Ukrainians are reported to have advanced 30 kilometres into Russia. They are capturing more localities and are heading towards the nuclear power plant in Kursk. There are also reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are building fortifications in the Kursk region.

• The Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, on Thursday rejected the Ukrainian embassy's request to detain Vladimir Putin should he attend the inauguration ceremony of Claudia Sheinbaum, the future President of Mexico, which will take place in October.

• There have been ongoing battles for several days now between Russian forces and Ukrainian units that have entered the Kursk region in Russia. Now, media reports of strong explosions and fires are coming in.

• Reuters reported that according to Russian military bloggers, the Ukrainian army is heading towards the nuclear power plant in Kursk, located about 69 kilometres from the town of Sudzha. Earlier, they reported the capture of a gas measurement station in Sudzha. Putin spoke with the governor of the Kursk region.