Russia loses 1,310 soldiers and more than 430 pieces of equipment over past day

The strikes targeted a major military plant in Cheboksary, more than 900km from the frontline, as well as an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region.

Traffic was suspended this week on the Chonhar Bridge – a key section of the road connecting Russia-occupied Kherson province to Crimea – after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes.

Parallels between the two wars abound, from the grinding nature of the fighting to the way new technologies reshaped warfare.

The war in Ukraine has often been compared to the first World War for its brutal infantry assaults and heavy casualties.