It is day 622 of the war in Ukraine. Russia’s Defence Ministry says it downed 17 Ukrainian drones over annexed Crimea overnight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said it’s “not the right time” to hold elections in the country.

Vladimir Putin to run for re-election next year, Kremlin sources tell Reuters.

Russia’s Defence Ministry says it downed 17 drones over annexed Crimea

The Russian Defence Ministry said that 17 drones attacked annexed Crimea overnight, adding that nine had been destroyed and eight had been intercepted. The internationally unrecognised governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that the air defence system had been in operation.

Wreckage from one of the downed drones reportedly landed in the courtyard of a private house. One man suffered a broken arm.

Zelensky: ‘not the right time’ to hold elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it is “not the right time” to hold elections in the country given the ongoing war with Russia, according to Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine.

While Zelensky’s five-year term expires in 2024, elections cannot be held until an end to martial law in the country has been declared. Zelensky said that it would be “irresponsible” to hold elections during wartime.

“The state needs to focus much more on defence. … We must decide that now is the time to defend ourselves and fight. The fate of the country and the people depends on it,” Zelensky added.

Putin plans to stay in power until at least 2030, Kremlin sources tell Reuters

Six separate sources speaking on condition of anonymity have confirmed to Reuters that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision to run for re-election next year.

“The decision has been made — he will run,” one of the anonymous sources told Reuters.

Given that the Russian Constitution was changed in 2020 to allow Putin to remain in power for another two terms, the news is unlikely to come as a surprise to most Russians. However, the Kremlin has so far remained silent on the issue.