Russian capital, Moscow, experiences a series of drone strikes this month, raising concerns about the country's vulnerability to attack. The latest incident occurred on Friday when a Ukrainian drone was shot down in the Moscow Oblast region, just outside the city. This marks the third such incident in the capital region.

Fortunately, no injuries or damages were reported. These drone attacks come as the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its 18th month, exacerbating concerns about Moscow's security.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin engages in an African summit in St. Petersburg, as part of his charm offensive with African leaders. The two-day summit aims to present Russia as a reliable international partner, with Putin pledging food aid to African countries that are particularly vulnerable to food scarcity.

Putin uses this opportunity to shift blame for Ukraine's food export route impairment onto Western nations, stating that the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative was caused by them. During the summit, Putin reiterates his desire for negotiations to end the war, while blaming Ukraine and the West for refusing to engage.

But Ukraine maintains that it will not make territorial concessions, while the Kremlin has already declared four Ukrainian regions to be part of Russia. Despite this stalemate, Putin continues to charm African leaders, with 17 of them attending the summit.

In his speech, Putin announces Russia's commitment to delivering 25,000 to 50,000 tons of free grain to Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Mali, Somalia, and Zimbabwe within the next few months. This gesture is aimed at countering criticism against Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal and its subsequent bombardment of Ukrainian ports and infrastructure used for food transport.

It is worth noting that the aid is predominantly directed towards countries aligning with Moscow, with only Somalia voting against Russia in a recent United Nations resolution on the Ukrainian war. Amidst the summit, Putin takes a break to address recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian forces. According to U.S. officials, Ukrainian counteroffensives have caused heavy losses for Russian troops.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian presidential office reports civilian casualties in Donetsk, as well as shelling in other regions. The Ukrainian military claims to have gained control of the village of Staromayorske in the Donetsk region, but significant advances in Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian-held areas are yet to be seen.

In the midst of these events, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the city of Odesa, which has been severely hit by Russian missile and drone strikes. Zelenskyy assesses the damage to the city's historic center, including its landmark Orthodox cathedral, and visits medical facilities to connect with affected citizens.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, drone attacks in Moscow highlight the vulnerability faced by the Russian capital. Simultaneously, Putin's charm offensive in Africa aims to strengthen Russia's international partnerships and counter Western blame for the food export route impairment. With tensions high, the conflict shows no signs of resolution, leaving both nations and the world on edge.