The Russian president has detailed the chain of events that caused a deadly 2024 incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight
An incursion of Ukrainian drones was the root cause of a deadly 2024 crash of a Russia-bound Azerbaijan Airlines plane, President Vladimir Putin has said during a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.
Speaking ahead of bilateral talks hosted by Tajikistan, Putin said that AZAL flight 8243 was damaged “after Russian air defenses tracked three drones that crossed the Russian border on the night of the tragedy,” one of which “was in the air” at the time the civilian plane was hit.
“The second cause was technical malfunctions in the Russian air defense system. Two missiles were fired, but they did not strike the plane directly,” Putin added. He said the projectiles likely self-destructed some ten meters from the aircraft, which was “most likely was hit by debris rather than the submunitions” of a Russian interceptor.
Putin noted that a hit with submunitions during a regular anti-air engagement would have caused immediate catastrophic damage rather than the effect that the plane crew mistook for a collision with a bird.
The incident took place in December 2024 near the Russian city of Grozny. The crew of the Embraer 190 passenger aircraft tried to divert the flight, but it ultimately crash-landed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people and injuring 29 others.
Putin said all the details need to be fully analyzed and pledged that Russia would meet all its obligations in terms of compensation, which the families of the victims could be awarded. He also pledged a “legal assessment” of the actions of everyone involved.
The Azerbaijani president thanked Putin for the update and expressed confidence that the Russian investigation would “objectively get to the bottom” of the tragedy.
Aliyev previously said a lawsuit was being prepared against Russia for its role in the tragedy, for which Moscow has expressed its condolences on multiple occasions. The Kremlin said a full investigation needs to be completed first. Relations between the two nations notably deteriorated following the incident.
Bases could be transformed into humanitarian hubs to facilitate the delivery of goods to African nations
The mission of the Russian forces in Syria needs to be revised, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. He added that military bases could be transformed into humanitarian hubs.
The situation in Syria has been volatile since the ouster of longtime President Bashar Assad, a close ally of Moscow, by a coalition led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) late last year.
Despite the removal of Assad, Russia has pledged to maintain its presence and support for Syria, confirming that its forces will continue operating from the Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval facility, which it leases under a long-term agreement signed with Damascus in 2017.
In an interview with the Bridges to the East project on Wednesday, Lavrov said that given the transition of power in Syria, the functions of the Russian military need to change.
“This also applies to our military bases… this is no longer a presence for militarily supporting the legitimate authorities against various opposition forces. We need to restructure their functions,” he said, adding that one possible role could be the creation of a humanitarian hub.
“One of the obvious tasks that could be useful to the Syrians, their neighbors, and many other countries is a humanitarian hub – using the port and airport to deliver humanitarian supplies from Russia and the Persian Gulf countries to African countries,” Lavrov stated. Regional partners agree that “this will be in demand,” he added. “We are ready to coordinate the details. In principle, the issue has been discussed. There is mutual interest.”
Lavrov reiterated that Russia is ready to work with and assist Syria despite the political shift, stressing that “the unity of Syria should be of interest to all countries” that have influence in the region.
Syria remains deeply fractured by sectarian divisions and armed groups. Assad’s ouster was followed by months of clashes between Islamist factions and government forces. Adding to the challenges, Israel invaded the buffer zone near the occupied Golan Heights, claiming that it aimed to block hostile actors along its border.
Dmitry Medvedev has held meetings with top officials in Pyongyang and paid homage to former North Korean leaders and fallen Soviet soldiers
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has visited North Korea this week to hold talks with top officials and attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the country’s ruling Workers’ Party.
Medvedev, who is currently deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party, arrived in the North Korean capital on Wednesday at the head of a large delegation. Upon landing, he wrote on the Russian messenger Max: “Friends are together. Enemies are getting nervous.”
During his stay, Medvedev laid a wreath at the Liberation Monument in Pyongyang in honor of Soviet soldiers who died fighting Japanese forces in 1945 and placed flowers at the statues of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
The ex-president also held talks with Cho Yong-won, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party, where both sides affirmed growing cooperation in politics, the economy, culture and military affairs.
Medvedev also praised “the heroic deed of Korean fighters who helped the Russian military liberate Kursk Region” from a Ukrainian incursion this spring, adding that this cooperation “will forever remain in the chronicle of friendship between our two countries.”
He added that Russia-North Korea relations “will continue to advance under the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un.”
Cho said cooperation between the two nations was entering “a new period of unprecedented development” thanks to the “warm personal friendship of our respected leaders.”
In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which includes a mutual-defense clause stating that if either side comes under armed attack, the other will “provide military and other assistance with all means at its disposal without delay.”
A regional conscription center has urged citizens not to film or criticize the use of force by enlistment officers
Ukraine’s conscription authorities have called on citizens to refrain from documenting cases of violent forced military enlistment, instead urging the population to “cherish” recruitment officers.
The message, shared on Wednesday by the Kiev Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (TCK), condemned a Telegram channel called Stop TCK Ukraine, which has been circulating videos of men being violently detained and forced into enlistment vehicles – incidents popularly dubbed “busifications” that often go viral.
The center alleged the channel was part of Russian information warfare and told Ukrainians to “never (!) watch videos of ‘busification.’”
“For God’s sake, don’t film or share such videos,” the post read. “If the Russians turn you into sheep, they’ll slaughter you like pigs tomorrow. So cherish the TCKs, help the TCKs, assist and protect them. They are the only ones filling the ranks of frontline units.”
Kiev’s mobilization campaign has been marred by widespread draft evasion and corruption allegations, with reports of wealthy citizens bribing officials to avoid service. Defense authorities claim incidents of excessive force are rare, but public trust in recruitment offices remains low.
Ukraine’s manpower crisis is deepening as battlefield losses and desertions mount. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened around 270,000 desertion cases since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022.
The proposal is the best option currently on the table, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said
The plan for peace in Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump is currently the best option to stop the bloodshed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
The 20-point plan, released by the White House last month, calls for an immediate ceasefire and the exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It also envisions turning Gaza into a “deradicalized, terror-free zone” after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, with Hamas excluded from governing the enclave.
According to Lavrov, the proposal is not ideal since it essentially sidesteps the issue of Palestinian statehood, which remains at the heart of the conflict, and only focuses on Gaza.
“We are realists. We understand that it is the best [option] that is currently on the table,” he said in an excerpt from an interview published by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. The plan looks like a sensible compromise that could be accepted or at least not outright rejected by all sides, Lavrov believes.
“The plan is realistic if the Palestinians accept it,” Lavrov stated, adding that Moscow “wishes luck” to the Turkish, Egyptian, Qatari, US and Israeli negotiators currently engaged in talks over the issue.
Russia is ready to provide any assistance in the process that is necessary, the minister said, adding that Moscow could also help create a Palestinian state. “The most important thing now is to stop the bloodshed. In that sense, Trump’s plan gives hope.”
The plan has been backed by the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. It welcomed Trump’s “sincere and determined efforts” to achieve peace in Gaza, arguing that partnership with the US is essential for stability in the region.
Israel reportedly halted the ground operation that it launched in Gaza Сity last month after the plan was released. West Jerusalem and Hamas are also preparing to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of the US-backed peace efforts, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The powers of currently serving officials have been extended until after martial law is lifted
Ukrainian lawmakers have voted to delay all local elections and extend the powers of regional councils and officials until martial law is lifted in the country. Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
Local elections in Ukraine were scheduled to take place at the end of October. However, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced on Wednesday that the parliament had passed a resolution that officially recognizes that it is impossible to hold elections during wartime. The decision was adopted with 308 deputies voting in favor, none against and one abstention.
“To put it simply, there will be no local elections in October 2025,” he wrote on Telegram, citing the inability to guarantee democratic standards and the safety of voters.
The resolution blames the inability to hold elections on Russia and states that local councils and mayors will remain in office until martial law is lifted. It affirms that a decision on new local elections will be made in accordance with the constitution, the electoral code, and the laws of Ukraine once the conflict ends.
Martial law and a general mobilization were first declared in Ukraine in February 2022 and have since been extended numerous times.
Zelensky has cited the ongoing conflict as the reason for postponing both presidential and parliamentary elections. Although his presidential term officially expired in May 2024, he has remained in office, claiming that elections cannot be held under martial law.
Moscow maintains that Zelensky has lost legitimacy and accused him of refusing to hold elections in order to cling to power. Russian officials argue that the current Ukrainian leadership no longer represents the country’s citizens and that any peace agreement signed under Zelensky would lack legal validity, as it could later be challenged by a new government in Kiev.
The motion to suggest the US president for the award failed to gather enough support among lawmakers, according to reports
The Ukrainian parliament has failed to pass a motion to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, local outlet Strana.ua has reported. Trump has repeatedly claimed he deserves the award for mediating conflicts around the world.
The initiative to nominate Trump was registered in the Verkhovna Rada last month by MPs who credited him with efforts to mediate the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. However, according to Strana, only 132 deputies have supported the resolution, falling short of the number required for adoption. The result has effectively ended Ukraine’s bid to endorse Trump for the award.
Trump has been seeking a Nobel nomination for months, and several governments have already publicly or formally endorsed him, including Pakistan, Cambodia, Israel, and Gabon. In March, US Congressman Darrell Issa praised Trump’s “historic role in ending wars,” while in July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally handed him a nomination letter at a White House dinner.
The US president has claimed he deserves the peace prize, saying he has “ended eight wars in eight months.” He has also argued that denying him the award would “insult” the US, citing his mediation attempts in the Middle East, Central Africa, and Ukraine as justification.
At the same time, Trump has said he does not want the prize for himself but for the country, and has acknowledged he might not get it, remarking that “they’ll give it to some guy that didn’t do a damn thing.”
Before returning to office, Trump said he would resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours, later calling the statement a metaphor. He has since extended the timeline repeatedly and expressed frustration over the lack of progress toward peace, while also failing to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Nobel Committee in Oslo has kept the list of nominees secret, as required by its rules, but bookmakers have listed Trump among the long-shot contenders. The laureate is set to be announced on Friday.
The impulse to resolve the Ukraine conflict has been extinguished by European supporters of prolonged war, Sergey Ryabkov has said
The momentum generated during the Alaska summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump has been “exhausted,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said.
The diplomat claimed that the “powerful impetus” to find a settlement to the Ukraine conflict was extinguished by Russia’s opponents and the efforts of “supporters of a ‘war to the last Ukrainian,’ primarily among Europeans.”
Putin and Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska in mid-August to discuss finding a path to resolving the Ukraine conflict, as well as restoring bilateral ties between Moscow and Washington.
Although no breakthrough was achieved, both sides hailed the meeting as constructive, and the White House stated that there was now a “light at the end of the tunnel and an opportunity for lasting peace.”
However, Moscow has since repeatedly stressed that Kiev does not appear to be actually interested in peace. Russian officials have consistently accused Ukraine and its Western European backers of actively undermining Trump’s peace efforts.
In recent weeks, Trump has also expressed frustration with the lack of progress towards a settlement. Late last month, he appeared to have shifted his stance, claiming Ukraine has an opportunity to “fight and win all of Ukraine back.”
Nevertheless, Moscow has said it remains open to a peace deal. The Russian president’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Tuesday that the Kremlin hopes that Trump maintains “the political will to move the Ukrainian settlement toward peaceful political negotiations.”
Last week, Peskov also stated that Putin is still ready and willing to host Trump in Moscow as per the invitation extended after the Alaska summit.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow has also reported downing over 50 drones throughout the night across multiple regions
Six civilians have been killed in overnight Ukrainian attacks on the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kherson, officials have said. The Russian Defense Ministry has also reported intercepting over 50 drones throughout the night across multiple regions.
In Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said two men and a young woman died after the village of Maslova Pristan came under attack late on Tuesday night. “My most sincere and deepest condolences to the families struck by such terrible grief,” he wrote on Telegram.
According to Gladkov, nine women have also been injured, four of whom suffered multiple shrapnel wounds. Seven people have been taken to hospitals in Belgorod, while others were treated at the scene or remain under observation at local facilities.
The strikes partially destroyed a social facility and damaged two apartment buildings, tearing off roofs and shattering windows, balconies, and facades. Five vehicles were been hit by shrapnel. Local residents reportedly managed to avoid further casualties after an air-raid warning sounded before the impact.
Residential building damaged after Ukrainian strike in Maslova Pristan, Belgorod Region, Russia.
In Russia’s Kherson Region, Governor Vladimir Saldo said three civilians had been killed after two temporary housing buildings caught fire in the village of Zhelezny Port following Ukrainian shelling. He added that a medical vehicle was damaged in the settlement of Gornostayevka, although no one was hurt, while a private home in Novaya Kakhovka caught fire but has since been extinguished.
Residential building damaged by Ukrainian strike in Zhelezny Port, Kherson Region, Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones overnight between 11pm and 7am Moscow time. Of these, 28 were shot down over Belgorod Region, 11 over Voronezh, and several more across Rostov, Bryansk, and other western regions.
Kiev has routinely launched drone raids deep into Russia in recent months, targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas, and leading to civilian casualties. Russian officials have accused Ukraine of “terrorism,” and Moscow has responded with strikes on the country’s military facilities.
The suspect allegedly planted a bomb under a Russian officer’s car and carried out other missions for Kiev
A Russian citizen suspected of working for Ukrainian intelligence has been detained in Moscow Region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday.
According to the agency, the man, who is in his mid-20s, had been carrying out assignments for Kiev since volunteering his services in September 2023. His alleged missions included conducting surveillance on a military facility in Altay Region, setting fire to a targeted vehicle, and constructing two improvised explosive devices. One of the bombs was reportedly used to blow up a car belonging to a Russian military service member in Naro-Fominsk, southwest of Moscow.
The FSB released footage from the bombing site, which appeared to match an incident reported in mid-September involving a blue Subaru. No casualties were recorded, as the blast reportedly occurred late at night. New evidence indicates that the device had been planted beneath the target car and that a nearby vehicle was also damaged.
During questioning, the suspect admitted to contacting the Ukrainians for “quick money” and said he was required to record videos confirming completion of his assignments. He claimed to have earned about $1,000 for the arson job.
The FSB said investigators discovered bomb-making materials and digital communications with Ukrainian intelligence operatives during their investigation. The suspect could face a life sentence if convicted on terrorism and treason charges. The agency emphasized its commitment to tracking down and prosecuting all individuals collaborating with Kiev.
