MEZIESBLOG

Drone strikes on Russian soil will increase, a senior Ukrainian official has said. 

Several drone attacks have been launched against Russian regions in recent weeks, and Mykhailo Podolyak said this shows the war is gradually shifting to Vladimir Putin’s country. 

“As for Russia… there is an increasing number of attacks by unidentified drones launched from the territory of the Russian Federation, and the number of these attacks will increase,” the presidential adviser said. 

“Because this is the stage of the war… when hostilities are gradually being transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation,” he added. 

Mr Podolyak also ruled out peace talks for now, saying any negotiations would amount to “capitulation” on Ukraine’s part. 

Drone strikes on Russia have sharply increase in scale over the last few days – earlier this week, we saw the biggest attack yet. 

Six Russian regions were hit in one night, with transport planes destroyed, and a military airfield set ablaze.

‘He calls me his friend’ – Putin to meet XI ‘soon’

Vladimir Putin is due to hold a meeting with XI Jinping. 

The Russian president said he will meet his Chinese counterpart “soon enough”. 

The two countries have developed closer ties since the war in Ukraine started – much to the alarm of the West. 

“Soon enough we will have a meeting with the Chinese president,” Mr Putin said.

“He calls me his friend, and I am happy to call him my friend, because he is a person who does a lot for the development of Russian-Chinese relations.”