At least three Russian servicemen were killed Monday after a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defenses as it approached a military airfield deep inside Russian territory, according to Russian state news agencies, citing the defense ministry. It is the second such attempted attack on the city of Saratov Oblast, which houses the Engels-2 military airfield, a strategic bomber airbase, this month.
In comments Monday, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat did not claim direct responsibility for the drone, but did suggest the attack was the “consequence of what Russia is doing.”
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday “we are ready to negotiate,” but added, “It’s not us who is refusing to negotiate, it’s them,” according to state media, citing an interview Putin did with state TV. Putin’s remarks come as Russia continues its offensive against Ukraine.
Here are other top headlines to know:
- Calls for Russia’s removal from the UN: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is calling for Russia to be excluded from the security council of the United Nations, and from being a member of the UN entirely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Russia’s expulsion from the United Nations in the past.
- Putin’s remarks on negotiations: Putin said he is ready to “negotiate with everyone involved in this process about acceptable solutions” regarding the war in Ukraine, according to Russian state news agency TASS. In response, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, “Putin needs to come back to reality.”
- New Putin appointee: Putin has appointed former President Dmitry Medvedev to a new position—that of first deputy chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission, according to the decree published by the government. The decree signed by Putin introduced changes to the Military-Industrial Commission and listed Medvedev, who is currently deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, as its first deputy chairman.
- Strikes in Kherson: On Saturday, Russia struck the southern city of Kherson more than 70 times, killing at least 16 people and injuring at least 64 people, Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson region military administration, wrote on Telegram Sunday.
- Russian gas: Russia is prepared to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, which was previously stopped for political reasons, according to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. But, Russia may cut oil output by 5% to 7% at the start of next year, Novak said last week, detailing a concrete threat of a production cut for the first time.
