Andrei Rudenko

Russian lawmakers on Wednesday voted unanimously to ratify a landmark mutual defense pact with North Korea, as Kiev and the West claim Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine.

The agreement formalizes months of deepening security cooperation between the two nations, which were Communist allies throughout the Cold War.

"International sanctions imposed on Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine must be lifted to avoid a global food crisis", Russia's deputy foreign minister has said.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Russian offensive in Donbas in advancing

Early this morning in Zaporizhzhia there was a Russian rocket attack, the city administration announced in its channel on the social network Telegram. There are still no reports of casualties or damage.

The Defence Ministry of the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova has ordered the mobilisation of all men between 18 and 55, "at a special meeting to replenish the peacekeeping contingent," a statement issued to the heads of local administrations in Transnistria said.

The Russian delegation, as Nexta media reported, will be represented by Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Grizlov, MP Leonid Slutsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The head of the delegation is Vladimir Medinsky.

Military assistance to Donbas is ruled out for now, but Moscow is ready to offer it if there is a threat.