"Russia's Winter Offensive: Ukraine Braces for Bloody Assaults on Day 699"

On day 699 of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia vows to defend its citizens and infrastructure from Ukrainian attacks, while Kyiv claims to have shot down eight Russian attack drones. Diplomatic tensions rise as Russia rejects peace plans backed by Kyiv and its Western allies, and Poland's Prime Minister pledges continued support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Russian politician critical of the invasion seeks signatures to run for president, and a think tank suggests that the war has increased Russia's reliance on non-strategic nuclear weapons.