The hostages were handed over to Israel and flown back from the border with Gaza for a medical examination. Meanwhile, buses of Palestinian prisoners are headed for Ramallah, in The West Bank.

Initial reports of an SAF offensive in the Kordofan region in southern Sudan.

The Ukrainian command has transferred the 210th assault regiment "Berlingo" to Kursk Oblast.

There are now reports of Ukrainian POWs being taken after Russian forces captured the school and hospital in southern Velyka Novosilka.

Isn't it funny how everyone has just memory-holed Ukraine's Kursk offensive that took place 3 weeks ago. The fact that Ukraine's offensives went from lasting 3 months, to a few weeks to a couple of days is very telling.

Russian forces have reportedly advanced further into the last Ukrainian stronghold in Toretsk in the form of the Toretska mines which is held by the "Lyut" brigade.

Russian forces now control well over 99% of Toretsk city.

Velyka Novosilka has fallen.

And less than 5 months later from 10k, I've reached 20,000 followers on Twitter. Thank you to all my followers for helping me reach this milestone! It means so much to me.

I never expected that this would happen when I started my reporting journey, and it's been an absolute pleasure to provide you all with the latest news from conflicts around the world.

Since 10,000 followers, I have greatly expanded my coverage to include conflicts in The Middle East and the war in Sudan, as well as general geopolitical events. Hopefully in the coming weeks I will have a new project to work on. It's not definite yet, but I will let you all know if it comes to fruition.

30k followers next!

We also reached 5,000 subscribers here on Telegram, which is also an amazing milestone. Thank you all for both of these!

The Democratic Republic of congo has severed all ties with Rwanda following a new rebel M23 offensive on the key eastern city of Goma in the Kivu province of the DRC.

Congolese army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge stated that "Rwanda is determined to seize the city of Goma,"

This comes as South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay, announced the deaths of 13 of their soldiers serving as peacekeepers in the conflict zone.

I'm currently in the process of finding some sources for this war and will try to map out the battle for Goma.

U.S. president Donald Trump has lifted the ban put in place by Biden on MK-84 2,000-pound bombs and has instructed the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) to ship 1,800 of these bombs within a week.

The fall of Velyka Novosilka should serve as an example to everyone of the absolute incompetence of the Ukrainian command when it comes to withdrawing troops from dangerous salients. It also represents Ukraine's PR-based tactics (which don't win wars).

Recent reports from multiple reliable sources indicate that Russian forces advanced in Toretsk and Krymske, capturing the remaining residential areas.

In Krymske, Russian forces completed the capture of the village, successfully outflanking the main Ukrainian positions in the Toretska mines. In Toretsk, Russian forces advanced to the northeastern city limits, capturing the remaining houses.

Clearing operations are ongoing in the Toretska mines, and I expect it, and the city as a whole will fall in the coming hours.

+ ~0.29km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces advanced in the Pokrovsk direction, securing a buffer zone northwest of Novohrodivka.

This advance is probably quite old and should be treated as a frontline correction. Either way, Russian forces captured a section of the windbreaks on either side of the railway line.

+ ~0.70km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage and a recent map update by the Ukrainian source "Deepstate" indicate that Russian forces advanced on the western flank of Pokrovsk.

Advances were made in two directions. In the west, Russian forces advanced from positions in the farm on the northern outskirts of Kotlyne, up a treeline, reaching the intersection with a perpendicular treeline where they gained a foothold.

In the east, Russian forces advanced across open fields, capturing a section of another treeline south of the railway line.

+ ~0.50km² in favour of Russia.

A recent map update by the Ukrainian source "Deepstate" indicates that Russian forces made a small advance in western Donetsk Oblast.

Russian forces advanced from positions in the treeline that leads up to the southeastern houses of Nadiivka, and took up positions in two more treelines, as well as some orchards.

+ ~0.15km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces advanced in the Andriivka direction and entered Andriivka from the northeast.

Russian forces advanced parallel with two trench lines to the north of Andriivka, entering the outermost houses of the village, taking up positions there.

Additionally, Russian forces advanced from positions in a forest, capturing a large fortification on the eastern approaches to Andriivka.

+ ~1.73km² in favour of Russia.

Geolocated footage and recent reports from multiple reliable sources indicate that Russian forces completed the capture of Velyka Novosilka.

In the south of the town, Russian forces encircled and captured the Ukrainian garrison stationed in the hospital and school buildings. Ukraine suffered heavy casualties defending their positions here.

In the north, after all organised defence broke down, Russian forces swiftly moved north from their positions in the town centre, capturing Ukrainian positions in the low-rise residential areas.

+ ~2.57km² in favour of Russia.