Russia Says it Downed Ukraine-Launched Drones Targeting Moscow 

Spent shells lay piled up on the front line in the outskirts of Lyman, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP)
Spent shells lay piled up on the front line in the outskirts of Lyman, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP)
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Russia Says it Downed Ukraine-Launched Drones Targeting Moscow 

Spent shells lay piled up on the front line in the outskirts of Lyman, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP)
Spent shells lay piled up on the front line in the outskirts of Lyman, Ukraine, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP)

Russia shot down at least three Ukraine-launched drones early Tuesday that were targeting the country's capital, the Russian defense ministry said.

The ministry said that its air defense systems destroyed two drones over the Kaluga and Tver regions, which border the Moscow region, as well as one closer to the capital, over the Istra district of the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that the drones "were trying to carry out an attack on Moscow" and that a consumer services facility was damaged in the Istra district, which is located some 65 km (40 miles) northwest of the Kremlin.

There was no damage or casualties elsewhere. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Sobyanin said that drone debris in the Tver region fell in the Zavidovo village. According to RIA state news agency, Zavidodvo is home to "Rus", an official residence palace of the Russian president.

President Vladimir Putin's main residences are the Novo-Ogaryovo residence in the Moscow region as well as the Grand Kremlin Palace - where official events are held.

Russian news agencies reported that almost 50 flights were cancelled or postponed early Tuesday from the four major airports around the capital - Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky.

Drone attacks on Russian targets, especially in Crimea - annexed by Moscow in 2014 - and in regions bordering Ukraine, have become almost a daily occurrences since two drones were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May.

The attacks have disrupted flights in and out of Moscow in recent weeks. Ukraine rarely takes direct responsibility for such drone strikes but says destroying Russian military infrastructure helps a counteroffensive Kyiv began in June.



US Prepares to Deport About 300 Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador

A young person walks past a mural in San Salvador, El Salvador, 07 March 2025. EPA/RODRIGO SURA
A young person walks past a mural in San Salvador, El Salvador, 07 March 2025. EPA/RODRIGO SURA
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US Prepares to Deport About 300 Alleged Gang Members to El Salvador

A young person walks past a mural in San Salvador, El Salvador, 07 March 2025. EPA/RODRIGO SURA
A young person walks past a mural in San Salvador, El Salvador, 07 March 2025. EPA/RODRIGO SURA

President Donald Trump's administration will pay El Salvador $6 million to imprison for one year about 300 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, in one of the first instances of the Central American country taking migrants from the United States.
The agreement follows discussions between El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about housing migrants in El Salvador's notorious prison, The Associated Press reported. Bukele's government has arrested more than 84,000 people, sometimes without due process, since 2022 as part of his crackdown on gang violence in the small country.
Memos detailing the transfer did not disclose how the Trump administration identified the roughly 300 people as members of Tren de Aragua, a gang Trump repeatedly highlighted in the campaign and declared to be a terrorist organization.
“The Republic of El Salvador confirms it will house these individuals for one (1) year, pending the United States' decision on their long term disposition,” wrote El Salvador's ministry of foreign affairs in a memo obtained by the Associated Press.
The Central American nation and Trump administration last month struck a deal to house migrants detained in the United States. The Trump administration contended that El Salvador could even house American citizens, though the US cannot deport citizens to another country.
Rubio and Bukele discussed the specifics of the new transfer, which include a cost of about $20,000 to house each prisoner for the year. A State Department document also suggests that it may set aside $15 million to send to El Salvador to house additional members of the gang.
The Salvadoran memo also confirmed the country would take two men it said were members of the MS-13 gang, an organization that was initially comprised of Salvadoran migrants to the US and had gained an increasing foothold in El Salvador prior to Bukele's crackdown.
One man, Cesar Eliseo Sorto Amaya, was convicted of double homicide in El Salvador before he was caught illegally entering the United States, according to the US Justice Department. The other was charged under President Joe Biden's administration with being a high-ranking leader of the MS-13 gang.