Odessa governor says 17 drones were shot down and buildings were also hit; Ankara prepares to use Sochi assembly to push for new grain deal
Starovoit did not specify which construction was broken in the drone strike on Sunday night, however, Russian newspaper Baza, which has smart police sources, said drone debris fell on the roof of the security construction.
The full extent of the damage was not reported without delay. Reuters may simply not be able to determine this information independently.
Erdoğan’s first face-to-face meeting with Putin since October comes as Russian forces try to repel a new offensive in Kiev that is beginning to show promise after three months of brutal fighting along Ukraine’s southern front.
The Turkish leader hopes to use the informal summit at the Sochi hotel on the Black Sea as a basis for peace negotiations that some Western officials are debating but that each side must conduct on its own terms.
Erdoğan has been one of the few leaders of the NATO defense alliance to open access to Putin.
The two leaders have a close but tumultuous relationship that appears to have strengthened since Russia introduced its “special military operation” in February 2022.
Putin’s resolution to reduce and delay Turkish bills for Russian fuel imports helped ease an economic crisis that virtually prevented Erdogan from being re-elected in May.
Turkey has reciprocated by refusing to accept Western sanctions against Moscow and becoming a very important location for Russia’s access to facilities and goods.
But Erdoğan has angered Putin by supplying arms to Ukraine and by supporting his NATO club ambitions.
The Kremlin became that way when Erdoğan in July allowed visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to bring back five commanders Russia had sent to Turkey as part of a first prisoner exchange.
The commanders were intended to remain in Turkey and the Kremlin warned that it would “take this into account in our long-term agreements” with Erdogan.
However, Moscow and Kiev are now seeking Erdoğan’s support in their dispute over grain and hostilities in the Black Sea.