Ukraine and Russia have escalated their shadow war of espionage, sabotage, and assassinations, with both countries claiming a growing list of captured agents, intercepted plots, and cross-border attacks.

Sometimes Russian spies recruit Ukrainians under the guise of “quests” — scavenger hunt-like games that are popular with teenagers.

Ukraine has “eliminated” two suspected Russian secret agents after a gunfight in a spy den in Kyiv. The man and woman killed were thought to be part of Russia’s FSB and behind the daylight assassination of one of Ukraine’s top spies this week.

Russian air defences downed 155 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, causing temporary airport closures and casualties in Lipetsk.

Trump and Putin speak on call following U.S. pause of weapons shipments to Ukraine. Russia continues escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Russian forces carried out a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, using 539 drones and 11 missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command. The military said 478 aerial targets were either successfully intercepted or “lost from radar tracking or suppressed by electronic warfare systems.