LIVE UPDATES: Ukraine May Redirect 40,000 Troops From Kherson to Other Areas - Russian Official

Former Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin told Sputnik that his inspection group of military advisers in the zone of the Russian military operation in Ukraine had been working with military developers to create light attack drones for troops of the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, incorporated into Russia in October.

"It is not about buying commercial drones... but about creating and testing... reconnaissance and light attack drones that could have a serious impact on the situation on the front," Rogozin said, adding that these tests could be conducted right at the test sites of the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

According to Rogozin, the group is in close contact with over 10 Russian military developers from different cities that could initiate serial production of military drones.

Earlier in the week, Rogozin told Sputnik that he had headed the Tsar's Wolves inspection group, which consists of "experienced military advisers and experts with rich military experience."

On Thursday, Rogozin announced successful tests in the republic of Donetsk of a "smart sight" for mortars with the participation of the Tsar's Wolves center.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on Saturday that he would consider a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov if he receives such a request.

"He [Lavrov] did not ask for a meeting as is usual in diplomacy; if he does, we will thoroughly consider his request, taking into account all aspects and the reality of the current situation," Kuleba said as quoted

Earlier this week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Moscow was not putting forward any preconditions for negotiations with Ukraine, but Kiev must show goodwill. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was "open for contacts," but Ukraine "has codified the non-continuation of negotiations."

Ukraine could redirect as many as 40,000 troops from Kherson to other areas including the Zaporozhye region after Russian soldiers withdrew from the city, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the Russia-appointed Zaporozhye regional administration, said on Saturday.

"If we talk about the Kherson region, the opponent has around 40,000 people that it could redirect to one or another area. The Zaporozhye region is a priority, as the dream of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky to cut the front and our group and reach Berdyansk has been well-known," Rogov told Russia's Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station.

The official also said that there were foreign militants from 40 countries fighting on Ukraine's side at the contact line in the Zaporozhye region.

"If earlier we could speak of 34 countries where the mercenaries come from, it is now over 40 countries," Rogov noted, adding that Ukrainians were also trying to take over the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which was transferred to Russian control in October.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next two to three days.

"If I can contact him [Putin] during these two to three days, I will have the opportunity to talk with him about what he thinks, what steps they [Russia] will take, especially what steps they can take to turn this process [on the Ukrainian settlement], that is, dialogue into peace," Erdogan told reporters on the plane upon his return from Uzbekistan.

Erdogan added that he considered it appropriate for Putin to participate in the G20 summit in Indonesia, but the Russian leader's decision not to take part in the gathering is his own decision that would be wrong to discuss.

"As for his decision not to participate in the summit, Mr. Putin obviously consulted with his team and eventually made such a decision. It would be disrespectful to him and his team to assess this issue," Erdogan noted.

Air raid sirens sounded in several Ukrainian regions late on Friday night, according to air raid data from the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Air raid warnings were in effect in the Ukrainian regions of Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, as well as the Ukraine-controlled part of Kherson Region overnight.