Russia has accused Ukraine of an attempted attack on Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and has threatened countermeasures. The Russian Presidential Office said that two drones that were flying towards the Kremlin compound crashed during the night. Putin was unharmed.
A little later, Russian state media quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the attempted attack, but in his Novo-Ogaryovo residence.
“We consider these actions as a planned act of terrorism and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation,” the Kremlin said. “The Russian side reserves the right to take countermeasures where and when it deems appropriate.” The information could not be independently verified.
Kiev denies involvement in drone incident
Ukraine rejects the attempted attack. Ukraine’s presidential office adviser Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter that his country is waging an exclusively defensive war and is therefore not attacking any objects on Russian territory. “Why? That doesn’t solve a military problem,” added the 51-year-old. On the contrary, it would only give Russia a reason to justify its attacks on civilians. “Obviously, Russia is preparing a major act of terrorism,” he said.
For example, an underground resistance group could be behind the drones over Kremlin territory, Podoljak said. After all, drones of this type can be bought everywhere. “Something is happening in Russia, but without Ukraine’s drones over the Kremlin.”
The spokesman for the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Serhiy Nykyforow, also rejects an alleged Ukrainian involvement. “As President Zelenskyy has stated several times, all of Ukraine’s existing resources are aimed at liberating its own territory and not attacking foreign (territory),” he told the Ukrajinska Pravda Internet portal.
A video had already appeared on social networks during the night, showing a small cloud of smoke near the Kremlin. Later, clips also circulated that are supposed to show the moment of destruction by air defenses on the Kremlin premises. These recordings could not be verified at first. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a complete ban on drones will apply in the Russian capital with immediate effect.
