As Russia's grip on Kherson continues to weaken, fears grow of it deploying a "scorched-earth" policy. In 1989 - as the Soviet Union was breaking up - China's hopes for change were crushed by tanks and automatic gunfire. irannews.ru/ - irannews.ru Many responded by creating homemade contraptions out of cardboard, egg boxes and other recycled materials. Riyadh has maintained its cooperative relationship with Russia since Putin sent troops into neighbouring Ukraine in late February. In fact, at the start of the war, Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Co invested at least $500m in Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil, just as the West was punishing these Russian energy giants with sanctions. The 69-year-old lives in a part of the southern Kherson region which has been liberated by Ukrainian troops earlier in October. "My head aches from all the shelling, we almost starved to death in the first few months," he said. China's brashness has been driven by its extraordinary power as both the world's biggest factory and marketplace. It has so far seemed unstoppable, poised to unseat the US as the largest economy. What he does want is to be the most powerful leader China has ever had - and the Communist Party just handed him that victory. Then, loudly over the radio, came a warning in Chinese and English: "Foreign military aircraft in northwest of Mischief Reef, this is the Chinese Navy! You are approaching Chinese airspace. To avoid further action, turn away and leave immediately!"