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Ukraine Repels Russian Drone Strike, but Debris Damages Odesa Warehouse

A view shows a postal distribution center of Nova Post company hit by Russian missiles, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Korotych, outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
A view shows a postal distribution center of Nova Post company hit by Russian missiles, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Korotych, outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
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Ukraine Repels Russian Drone Strike, but Debris Damages Odesa Warehouse

A view shows a postal distribution center of Nova Post company hit by Russian missiles, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Korotych, outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
A view shows a postal distribution center of Nova Post company hit by Russian missiles, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Korotych, outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

Ukraine shot down 14 attack drones and a cruise missile fired by Russia at its south and east overnight, but debris from a downed drone damaged a warehouse at the Black Sea port of Odesa, officials said on Monday.
Air defenses brought down nine Iranian-made Shahed drones over the southern region of Odesa, which is home to Ukraine's main Black Sea ports, and no one was reported injured, governor Oleh Kiper wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
There was no comment from Moscow, which denies targeting civilian infrastructure.
Russia has intensified attacks on port and grain infrastructure since quitting a UN-brokered deal in July that had allowed Kyiv to ship its grain via the Black Sea.
Ukraine, a major grain producer, has been trying to establish a new shipping corridor to revive its exports across the Black Sea, traditionally its main route to global markets, despite a de facto Russian blockade.
The regions of Kherson in the south, Donetsk in the east and Sumy in the northeast were also targeted in the attack, the Interior Ministry said.
All 14 drones, including 13 Shaheds, and a cruise missile were shot down in the strike, the air force said, praising air defense systems supplied by the West.
"Western weapons have proven and continue to prove their effectiveness on the battlefield," Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of the air force, wrote in a statement on Telegram.
Russia has carried out frequent air strikes across Ukrainian regions since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Kyiv fears Russia is going to step up attacks on its power grid to cripple infrastructure as winter begins to set in.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said that Russian shelling hit a thermal power station in Donetsk region on Sunday evening. The Interior Ministry said there had been a large fire.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, reported one of its thermal power stations had been shelled by Russia but provided no further details.

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Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
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Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

China will "crush" any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defense forum.

Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China's increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.

In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Speaking to a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum, Chinese army Lieutenant General He Lei said: "We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace."

But, he said, "if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People's Liberation Army... will never have any patience.”

"We in the Chinese People's Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China's territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means," He said.

On Wednesday, China and the Philippines held what they called "candid" talks on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has become a hotspot for recent bilateral clashes.

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coast guard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation," a readout from the Philippine foreign ministry said.

And on Thursday, Lieutenant General He said a resolution to tensions between Beijing and Washington over the issue "depends on the United States.”

He also confirmed that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase would attend this week's Xiangshan forum in Beijing.

"I hope that during his visit, during his meetings here, Michael Chase will listen more to the voices of China and the Chinese military," he said.

"The message we are sending to the United States is that we want the two countries and armies to be partners, to be friends, we want to pursue China-US relations featuring win-win cooperation," he said.

"We want the United States to make more contributions to regional and world peace, security and stability," he added.

Scores of delegates were in the Chinese capital Thursday for the Xiangshan forum, dubbed China's answer to Singapore's annual "Shangri-La" meeting.

It is set to host more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations, organisers have said.

Official speeches are expected on Friday, when the forum's opening ceremony will take place and top military representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and others will participate in roundtable discussions.