Russian invasionRussian reactions

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met in Uzbekistan in September. Sergei Bobylev / AP 

 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Putin wants to see strengthened military cooperation with China  

 

The military cooperation between Russia and China is to be expanded. This is what Vladimir Putin said when the issue was raised during a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Reuters reports. 

 

China is ready to expand strategic cooperation, Xi replied, against the backdrop of what he called "a difficult situation in the world at large." 

 

The two leaders discussed "urgent bilateral and regional issues," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. But the purpose is rather to showcase the countries' strong ties to the outside world, writes the New York Times. 

 

- Our leaders will discuss these problems in the spirit of a true strategic partnership, Peskov said, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

 

Military vehicles in Przewodów.  The place where a robot of the same model crashed in Poland. Evgeniy Maloletka / AP  

 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

 

Belarus: Unlikely Ukrainian robot was mistake 

 

It is unlikely that a downed Ukrainian robot ended up in Belarusian airspace by mistake. This is what Aleksandr Volfovich at the country's security council says to the state-run Sputnik Belarus, Reuters reports. 

 

- Kyiv strives to provoke a regional conflict in every way, says Volfovitch. 

 

According to Russian and Belarusian media, a Ukrainian robot of the S-300 type crashed in Belarus yesterday. It came as Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukrainian cities, the biggest attack in weeks. Ukraine's ambassador to Belarus has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

 

Ukraine itself says it will investigate the incident, but notes that the country has the right to defend itself against Russian attacks. 

 

People take shelter in the subway in Kyiv from the robot attacks on Thursday. Efrem Lukatsky / AP   

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

New flight alerts throughout Kyiv – Ukraine shot down 16 drones  

 

New flight alerts sounded over the Kyiv region last night and residents were urged to take shelter. Ukraine's army says it shot down 16 drones, Kyiv Independent writes.  

 

Mayor Vitaly Klytchko states that seven of the drone attacks were directed at the city itself, according to Reuters. An administrative building is said to have been partially destroyed.  

 

The drones were Iranian-made. Ukraine accuses Iran of supplying Russia with drones, but Tehran claims it has not sent any since the start of the war.  

 

The drone attack comes after Russia on Thursday carried out one of the largest robot attacks against the country since the invasion began. In his nightly speech, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the electricity system had suffered major damage. 

 

- With each robot attack, Russia only pushes itself closer to a cross stop. Their robots are just getting fewer and fewer, he says.