Urgent : Ukraine war – latest: 2 Military leaders have ‘decisively won’ Putin’s favour; video shows moment drone downed over Moscow region

Vladimir Putin has fully aligned himself with his top military brass, despite their failure to stop a Wagner coup to topple them, according to a US thinktank. And as drone attacks on Russian soil become increasingly regular, CCTV has captured the moment buildings were hit in Moscow.

Ukrainian ‘saboteurs’ behind drone attacks deep inside Russia – reports

Two drone attacks on Russian airbases were the work of Ukrainian saboteurs coordinated by Kyiv’s military intelligence services, according to reports from Ukraine media. 

The attacks on Saturday and Monday destroyed two Russian bombers and damaged two other aircraft, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

Both that newspaper and Ukraine’s NV news outlet said groups of saboteurs were behind the strikes.

Ukrainian media attributed two attacks to the saboteurs: Saturday’s strike on the Soltsky-2 base in the Novgorod region and Monday’s against the Shaykovka airfield.

As we covered in our 7.11am post, the UK defence ministry has said that drone attacks against Russian are likely being launched from inside its own territory. 

World Court set to hear Russian objections in genocide case

Russia’s objections to the World Court’s jurisdiction in a genocide case brought by Ukraine will be heard next month.

Ukraine formally accused Moscow of falsely applying genocide law to justify the attack shortly after its invasion last year.

The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to cease military actions in Ukraine in March 2022 as part of a preliminary decision.

Hearings will start on 18 September with submissions from Russia, followed by Ukraine.

The UK is among 32 other nations which will give their views before the case ends on 27 September.

Russia has suggested its « special military operation » in Ukraine was justified because it was aimed at preventing a genocide in Eastern Ukraine. 

Kyiv said there was no threat of genocide in Eastern Ukraine, and the UN Genocide Convention does not allow an invasion to prevent one. 

Putin to speak at BRICS summit via videolink as he sends Lavrov in his place

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has touched down in Johannesburg for a meeting of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – the group known as the BRICS.

Vladimir Putin is the only leader not attending in person – he is fearful of being detained if he travels abroad after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest. 

Instead he will join via videolink – a pre-recorded statement is set to be broadcast to the summit at 3.30pm.

The leaders are due to discuss expanding the group. More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, according to South African officials.

Mr Lavrov arrives at the Waterkloof Airforce Base in South AfricaAP

For context: Russia has allies in Africa. Eritrea was one of only four nations to vote last year against a UN resolution demanding Russia withdrew from Ukraine. While 28 African nations voted to condemn Russia, 17 others abstained – including South Africa.

South Africa has said it is impartial in the conflict, but the country has strong ties to Russia through the BRICS bloc.

As Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal last month, Mr Putin promised to send up to 50,000 tonnes of free grain to six African countries to replace Ukrainian grain exports.

Ukrainian and Serbian leaders hold ‘good’ and ‘open’ talks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he and the president of Serbia had an « open, honest and fruitful meeting » today.

Aleksandar Vucic echoed Mr Zelenskyy’s words, writing on Instagram that they had shared a « good and open » conversation on issues including the territorial integrity of both countries.

Mr Zelenskyy shared a photo on Telegram of the leaders shaking hands as they met in Athens.

He gave few details but added: « Good conversation on respect for the UN Charter and the inviolability of borders… On our
nations’ shared future in the common European home. On developing our relations, that is in our mutual interest. »

Serbia has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has not imposed sanctions on Moscow.

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