Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of carrying out 14 attacks on its energy infrastructure in a single day, while Ukraine dismissed it as false claims.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that over the past 24 hours, Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks from various directions and launched multiple offensives.
Russian forces hit Ukrainian military airports, military repair facilities, drone production workshops, ammunition depots, and concentrations of active forces and equipment in 147 areas, according to the report.
According to another report by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Saturday, from Friday night to Saturday morning, Russian air defense systems across multiple locations successfully shot down and intercepted 49 Ukrainian drones.
Governor of Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on Saturday that Ukrainian drones attacked an industrial facility in the region, causing a fire.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces issued a statement accusing the Russian Defense Ministry of spreading false information. The claim that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian energy infrastructure was false, and the Ukrainian military targeted Russian military objectives only, according to the statement.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also reported on Saturday that 145 combat engagements occurred across frontline over the past 24 hours.
The Ukrainian air force, missile units and artillery attacked 17 areas where Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, according to the report.
According to another report by the Ukrainian air force on Saturday, Russian forces launched 92 drones at Ukraine from 21:00 Friday to Saturday local time. By 09:00 local time on Saturday, Ukrainian forces confirmed the downing of 51 drones.
Russia, Ukraine dispute on energy facilities attacks
China's zero-tariff policy is widely seen as a major opportunity for African countries, supporting their efforts to improve livelihoods, advance trade upgrading and promote regional stability, African officials and economic stakeholders said.
On Friday, China officially expanded its zero-tariff policy to cover all 53 African nations with which it maintains diplomatic relations. The move aims to create new pathways for African exports and industrialization at a time when global trade faces mounting pressures from protectionism.
The policy builds upon earlier measures: since Dec 1, 2024, China has already eliminated tariffs on 100 percent of tariff lines for 33 least developed countries in Africa. The latest expansion now includes economies that are relatively more developed, such as Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria, opening doors for a broader range of African products to enter the Chinese market duty-free.
Omar Toure, president of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) Commission, noted that economic growth and poverty reduction can contribute to greater stability and peace in the region.
"For us, this is a major opportunity for our countries because China is a massive market and having access to such a massive market for our produce and products is a major opportunity that we must all seize. It will have impact on overall development of our countries through enhanced productivity because as you know, poverty is a key driver of insecurity in our region. The zero tariff policy is likely to advance our development, to support our development, as well as help us entrench peace and security in our region and on the continent," he said.
Beyond expanding market access, the initiative is expected to strengthen Africa's industrialization and help upgrade regional industries, spurring ambitions to pursue global economic involvement.
"It will enhance trading relations between China and the rest of its partners. I think to a large extent, also within Africa itself, it's going to act as a great catalyst for improving trade, for enhancing the economic relations and also for industrialization," said Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.
"China is a very big market, and if you supply to China, it means you will enhance the value of trade or the volume of your exports. And that in itself is monumental. In the sense that, apart from just the value of the export, you get more and more people getting higher incomes and also being able to upgrade their production facilities. So it's really going to benefit Africa in a way that Africa can also begin to participate in a global trade," said David Chewe, Fund Manager of Zambia Export Development Fund.
China‘s zero-tariff policy on Africa applauded as catalyst for boosting bilateral trade, peace
