Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian drone debris kills three Russians at military base

Three people were killed by a fallen Ukrainian drone over a Russian military base. This marks the second incident of Ukrainian drones targeting Russian military bases.

The Russian defense ministry said on Monday three military personnel were fatally injured from the debris of a Ukrainian drone that was shot down and fell in the Engels military airbase in the Saratov region. The ministry noted that no aviation equipment was damaged and the Saratov regional governor said no civil infrastructure facilities were also damaged by the incident.

The Engels airbase is located around 730 kilometers from Moscow and far from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. However, the base was also hit by what Moscow said was an attack by Ukrainian drones on two Russian air bases on December 5. While Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the drone attacks, Kyiv said that such incidents were “karma” for Russia’s invasion.

Drones are becoming a leading weapon used by both sides as the war has reached its 10th month. Iran has been accused of providing Russia with drones to target civilian infrastructure, including in Kyiv. Ukraine, however, has used sea and air drones to target Sevastopol in the annexed Crimea region, as well as targeting Russian air bases in Crimea and beyond Russia’s borders.

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone. Zelenskyy said he asked Modi for help in implementing a “peace formula.” The call between Zelenskyy and Modi also comes at a time when India is looking to strengthen trade relations with Russia as Western sanctions are introducing new measures in order to limit Russia’s funding of its war.

“I had a phone call with PM Narendra Modi and wished a successful G20 presidency,” tweeted Zelenskyy. “It was on this platform that I announced the peace formula and now I count on India’s participation on its implementation.”

Last month, Zelenskyy called on the G20 countries to adopt Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula in order to end the war. India is the group’s president for a year.

In a statement, the Indian government said that both Modi and Zelenskyy discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The statement also said Modi reiterated his call for an end to the “hostilities” in Ukraine and relayed India’s support for any peace efforts.