Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted 57 Russian drones across twelve regions, amid ongoing military collaboration between Russia and Belarus, which plans joint exercises for 2025. Russian officials warn that increased Western involvement in Ukraine may provoke nuclear confrontation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is attending the BRICS summit in Russia to discuss peace initiatives, while Germany proposes a new legal status for Ukrainian refugees to optimize social support and labor integration.
The Ukrainian air defense has successfully intercepted 57 Russian drones across twelve regions, as reported by the air force. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Guterres is in Russia attending the BRICS meeting. Here are the latest updates.
Joint Military Exercises Planned Between Russia and Belarus in 2025
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin has announced that Russia and Belarus are enhancing their military collaboration to safeguard their national sovereignty. The military leaders from both nations have begun preparations for additional joint exercises scheduled for next year.
Belarus, a close ally of Russia, shares borders with Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, all NATO and EU member states. At the onset of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus served as a launch point for Russian operations and has since increased its troop presence near the Ukrainian border.
Russia Cautions Against Increased Western Engagement
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Beloussov warned that escalating Western involvement in the Ukrainian conflict could lead to direct confrontations between nuclear nations. He highlighted that this growing interference heightens the risk of serious conflict, as reported by RIA news agency.
Russia Supports Peace Initiative by China and Brazil
Russia has expressed its approval of a peace proposal regarding Ukraine, which was introduced by China and Brazil during discussions at the BRICS forum in Kazan. Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov shared this information, stating that President Putin had hosted a dinner for various heads of state attending the summit and held bilateral talks with several leaders.
As founding members of the BRICS group, Russia, China, and Brazil aim to ensure that the conflict does not extend further and propose a peace conference that includes representatives from both Ukraine and Russia to discuss potential resolutions.
Ukrainian Air Defense Shoots Down 57 Drones
The Ukrainian air force has confirmed that it successfully downed 57 Russian drones over twelve regions. Additionally, they reported that Russian forces shot down 81 drones and launched missile attacks on the southern region of Odessa.
UN Secretary-General Attends BRICS Summit in Russia
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Kazan, Russia, for the BRICS summit, as reported by local authorities via Telegram. During this visit, Guterres is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking their first meeting since April 2022.
In light of growing global concerns over conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Guterres plans to engage with numerous high-ranking summit participants. His last discussion with Putin occurred shortly after Russia initiated its military operations in Ukraine, during which Putin expressed optimism about negotiating peace with Ukraine.
At the summit, Guterres intends to reaffirm his stance regarding the war in Ukraine and the necessary conditions for a just peace based on United Nations principles and international law. His deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, underscored Guterres’s role as a mediator in this conflict, reiterating that the annexation of Ukrainian territories is unacceptable in the contemporary world.
Russia Claims to Have Intercepted Drones and Unmanned Boats
The Russian military reported the destruction of 14 Ukrainian drones overnight, with ten of those downed over Crimea, as confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry. Additionally, four unmanned boats reportedly heading for Crimea were intercepted in the Black Sea.
Proposal for New Refugee Status in Germany
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has suggested creating a new legal classification for Ukrainian refugees aimed at reducing costs associated with the citizens’ allowance and facilitating their entry into the labor market. He mentioned this proposal to ‘WirtschaftsWoche,’ advocating for a combination of asylum seeker benefits with labor market policies connected to the citizens’ allowance.
This change would exempt Ukrainian refugees from undergoing the standard asylum procedure while preventing automatic eligibility for citizens’ allowance, which is intended for individuals at a socioeconomic subsistence level. The Finance Minister also proposed a fundamental overhaul of the citizen’s income, suggesting it should include fixed housing costs and that beneficiaries should be allowed to choose how they manage their living arrangements to save money.
Update on Tuesday’s Developments
According to UN data, Ukraine’s population has decreased by eight million people since the beginning of the war of aggression by Russia. Former NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasized that military support for Ukraine is the most effective path to achieving peace.
Stay tuned for further developments on Ukraine’s ongoing war situation.