Moscow: Russia said on Wednesday it reserved the right to retaliate “wherever and whenever it deems necessary” in response to an alleged drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Kremlin compound. Senior Moscow officials said two Ukrainian drones attempted to strike the Kremlin on Wednesday morning, but the raid was thwarted, RT reported.
According to the report, Putin’s office said the “terrorist attack” resulted in no injuries to the president and no damage to the Kremlin complex. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti that the Russian leader was not in the Kremlin at the time of the raid, adding that Putin was working at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow on Wednesday.
RT reported that the president’s office said Ukraine carried out two drone strikes overnight with the intention of striking Putin’s Kremlin residence.
The drone was shot down using electronic warfare measures and did not cause any casualties or damage, it said in a statement. Moscow considers the incident an “act of terrorism”.
According to the President’s Office, the incident happened late on Tuesday and both the unmanned aircraft fell on the grounds of the Kremlin. His schedule was not affected, RT reported. It added, “We consider this a premeditated terrorist act and an attempt against the Russian President.”
The incident “happened before the Victory Day and the parade to be held on 9 May, when foreign guests were expected to be present”.
Watch: Drone attack on Kremlin
Kremlin drone attack
– Russia says two Ukrainian drones attacked the Kremlin overnight
– The Kremlin was toppled with no casualties or material damage
Moscow says it was a terrorist attack and an attempt to kill Putin
– Russia says it reserves the right to respond when and how … pic.twitter.com/loZA6c3Fvd— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) May 3, 2023
There is footage circulating on social media purporting to show the result, with plumes of smoke billowing against a view of the night city from the area of the historic seat of Russian power.
The video was posted in the early hours of Wednesday on a group for residents of the neighborhood that faces the Kremlin across the Moscow River and was picked up by Russian media, including the Telegram channel of military news outlet Zvezda.
No role in Kremlin drone strike: Ukraine
Meanwhile, Ukraine denied any role in the drone attack on the Kremlin. Presidential spokesman Mykhailo Podolyak said, “Ukraine has nothing to do with the drone attacks on the Kremlin.” “Ukraine does not attack the Kremlin because, firstly, it does not serve any military purpose.”
He suggested that the attack was “staged” by Moscow. “Such a staged report by Russia should be regarded only as an attempt to create an informational background for a large-scale terrorist attack on Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, the mayor of Moscow announced a ban on unauthorized drone flights over the Russian capital.