Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s drones breach Nato airspace as Russia to hold military drills with China

Russia is preparing to join huge military drills with China near Japan this month, according to Chinese state-owned media.

The Xinhua new agency reported that Vladimir Putin ’s air and naval forces would join China’s People’s Liberation Army for drills in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk.

It comes as Russian drones breached Nato airspace as Vladimir Putin’s forces targeted Ukraine in an “irresponsible” overnight attack .

Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets to monitor the drones, which were detected in the early hours of Sunday morning while Latvia shared photos of a crashed drone in its eastern region.

Nato’s outgoing deputy secretary general Mircea Geoană said: “While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Moscow has been closing in on Pokrovsk, a key strategic town in eastern Ukraine which has seen intense battles over recent weeks.

Russian forces, which control about a fifth of Ukraine since invading in February 2022, have been advancing on the town in an attempt to take the whole of the Donbas.