Once again, drones have been the protagonists in the Ukraine war. In the past hours, several incidents with Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in Russian territory have been reported. In the Stavropol region, in southern Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire in an industrial area, as reported by regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov. The governor stated that there were no casualties, although details about the type of facility affected or the extent of material damage were not provided.
Almost simultaneously, in the region of the Russian capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that Russian air defense units destroyed a Ukrainian drone heading towards the city. According to Sobyanin, the drone was neutralized before reaching its target and did not cause any damage or injuries.
These two incidents occur within an escalation of drone attacks between Ukraine and Russia, which in recent months have expanded beyond traditional combat zones. Moscow claims that its air defense systems have intercepted most of the drones, while Kiev maintains that these attacks aim to weaken Russian military and logistical infrastructure.
Russia is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul
Russia is prepared to resume talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, citing statements from Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Alexei Polishchuk in an interview published on Wednesday.
According to the report, there have been no in-person meetings between both parties since July 23, when Moscow and Kiev representatives last met in the Turkish city.
Ukraine neutralizes 90 Russian drones, while 31 impact various locations in the country
Ukrainian defenses intercepted 90 Russian kamikaze drones 'Shahed', Gerbera, and other types launched by the Russian Army against territories under Kiev's control during the past night, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday, according to Efe.
Another 31 attack drones hit 19 unspecified locations in the country, all of them from Russia.
The report states that Russia employed a total of 121 drones of different types in this attack on Ukrainian territory, with nearly 70 being kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles 'Shahed'.
Russia shoots down 22 Ukrainian drones across seven regions, including Moscow
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 22 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across seven regions of the country last night, one of them near Moscow, as reported on Wednesday by the Russian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram channel, according to Efe.
According to the military report, eight of the drones shot down last night were intercepted and destroyed over the southern Rostov region, bordering Ukraine.
The remaining unmanned aerial vehicles were downed in the regions of Stavropol (four), Oryol (three), Bryansk (three), Tula (two), Kaluga (one), and Moscow (one).
Ukrainian Government removes Justice Minister over corruption suspicions
The Ukrainian Government suspended the current Minister of Justice and former Energy Minister, Herman Galushchenko, from his duties in an emergency session held early Wednesday after being implicated in an alleged commission scheme within the national atomic energy company uncovered on Monday by the country's anti-corruption agency, reports Efe.
"This morning, we held an extraordinary Government meeting. We have decided to remove Herman Galushchenko from his duties as Minister of Justice," wrote Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko on her X account.
Parliament initiated procedures on Monday to dismiss Galushchenko, who, according to an investigation by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), participated while Energy Minister in a network that obtained at least $100 million in commissions related to contracts awarded by a subsidiary of the state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom, to private companies.
UK to support Ukraine in energy sector repairs
The United Kingdom will provide support to Ukraine for vital repairs in the energy sector due to Russian bombings, in addition to offering humanitarian aid to those most affected by the lack of electricity, heating, and water this winter, as announced by the Foreign Ministry in a statement, reports Efe.
This support will help Ukraine restore essential energy infrastructure, ensuring the supply of light and heating in Ukrainian homes, hospitals, and schools, even in the face of ongoing Russian attacks, the statement specifies.
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper stated in the release that "Putin is trying to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold with the arrival of winter. These cowardly attacks not only threaten Ukraine's security but also pose a threat to the economic security, stability, and growth of the United Kingdom."