New China Defense Minister Holds Video Talks with Russia’s Shoigu 

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu meets with President Vladimir Putin after a flag-raising ceremony for the Admiral Golovko frigate joining the Russian Navy Fleet at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 25, 2023. (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters)
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu meets with President Vladimir Putin after a flag-raising ceremony for the Admiral Golovko frigate joining the Russian Navy Fleet at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 25, 2023. (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters)
TT
20

New China Defense Minister Holds Video Talks with Russia’s Shoigu 

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu meets with President Vladimir Putin after a flag-raising ceremony for the Admiral Golovko frigate joining the Russian Navy Fleet at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 25, 2023. (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters)
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu meets with President Vladimir Putin after a flag-raising ceremony for the Admiral Golovko frigate joining the Russian Navy Fleet at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 25, 2023. (Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via Reuters)

China's new defense minister Dong Jun held a video call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday, according to a defense ministry statement, in his first public engagement since being appointed last month.

Former Navy chief Dong's appointment came after his predecessor, Li Shangfu, disappeared from public view in August, throwing China's military diplomacy in doubt.

Dong told Shoigu that the Chinese and Russian militaries will "promote bilateral military relations to reach an even higher level, in order to play an even bigger role in upholding global security and stability", according to the Chinese defense ministry readout.

Dong added that both militaries will "firmly respond to global challenges and continue to enhance mutual strategic trust".

The role of China's defense minister is to be the public face of the People's Liberation Army in its engagement with the media and with other armed forces.

China and Russia's close military ties have been the target of Western scrutiny, especially after Russia's 2022 invasion of its neighbor Ukraine, which China has refused to condemn.

Western countries, including the United States, have repeatedly warned China not to provide lethal aid to Russia's battlefield efforts.

Both militaries held joint air and sea drills in the Sea of Japan in July, while South Korea had to scramble fighter jets when Chinese and Russian military planes entered its air defense zone last month.

A crucial element of Dong's job is to engage with the United States military to reduce the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

High-level military talks between China and the US resumed in December after being suspended for more than a year due to a dispute over Taiwan.



Russian Overnight Attack on Ukraine Kills One, Damages Energy Facilities, Ukraine Says 

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
TT
20

Russian Overnight Attack on Ukraine Kills One, Damages Energy Facilities, Ukraine Says 

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Sumy, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

At least one person was killed and 10 injured, including three children, in overnight drone attacks by Russia on Ukraine, officials said on Wednesday.

Various attacks also damaged energy facilities in two regions, according to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The attacks came as both sides accuse each other of not abiding by a US-proposed moratorium on strikes on each other's energy facilities.

"This systematic and constant nature of Russian strikes clearly indicates that Moscow despises the diplomatic efforts of partners," Zelenskiy said. "What's needed is new and tangible pressure on Russia to put this war on a path toward ending."

A drone hit a substation in the northeastern Sumy region and artillery fire damaged a power line in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, cutting electricity to nearly 4,000 consumers, he said on X.

A 45-year-old civilian was killed and two people were injured in a strike on a settlement near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, the governor of the southeastern region said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Fifteen drone strikes were carried out on Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city and lies close to the Russian border, city Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post on Telegram.

Oleh Sinehubov, the region's governor, said that a 9-month infant, a 7-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were among the eight injured in Kharkiv.

Russia has recently intensified its strikes on the city, with its attacks killing at least two people over the weekend and injuring tens more.

The Ukrainian air force shot down 41 drones out of 74 launched by Russia, it said in a statement on Telegram.

Another 20 drones did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures, it added, without saying what happened to the remaining 13 drones.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, saying their attacks are aimed at destroying each other's infrastructure crucial to war efforts.