Chinese drone experts have traveled to Russia to engage in technical development of military drones at a state-owned weapons manufacturer, according to two European security officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The manufacturer is currently under Western sanctions. In a separate diplomatic development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided a thumbs-up when asked about his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, indicating a potentially positive interaction. This news comes amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with a Ukrainian soldier in Myrnohrad, Donbas, receiving blessings from local women as he departed for the front lines. The Reuters report, citing European security officials and documents, specifies that Chinese drone experts are conducting technical development work at a state-owned weapons manufacturer in Russia. This collaboration is significant given the Western sanctions imposed on such entities. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Lavrov's gesture of a thumbs-up following his meeting with Secretary Blinken offers a visual, albeit brief, update on high-level diplomatic engagements between Russia and the United States. The sentiment expressed by local women in Myrnohrad towards the Ukrainian soldier underscores the civilian impact of the conflict. Previous reports from this morning indicated that Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber near Zaporizhzhia earlier on September 25th, and also targeted Russian aircraft and radar systems at Kacha airbase in Crimea overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested in an Axios interview that Kremlin officials should anticipate retaliatory strikes if the war does not end. A milblogger associated with the Russian Air Force confirmed the loss of the Su-34 to Ukrainian fire. Additionally, a significant fuel crisis in Russia was noted, with a substantial number of gas stations closed, particularly in occupied Crimea. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated on September 25th that American troops would not be deployed to Ukraine, with the U.S. prioritizing weapon sales to European nations for onward transfer to Kyiv. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler reaffirmed Turkey's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
