Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting to kill President Vladimir Putin through an overnight drone attack on the Kremlin, alleging the most serious escalation in the ongoing war between the two nations.
The Russian presidency said in a statement that “two uncrewed aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin,” but were put out of action by the military and special services. The statement added that the incident was a “planned terrorist act and an attempt on the president’s life.”
BREAKING: Footage surfaces of Ukrainian drone strike on the Kremlin last night. Russian govt confirms 2 unmanned aircraft downed by electronic-warfare systems after crashing into the Kremlin. Tensions escalate amid #UkraineRussiaWar️, inching closer to WW3. #KremlinStrike… pic.twitter.com/RdOHmcsh5k
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) May 3, 2023
In reaction to the claims, Russian nationalists have demanded quick reprisal against Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, while Putin’s office has stated that Russia retains the right to take retaliatory measures.
A video was posted on Baza, a Telegram channel with connections to Russia’s law enforcement agencies, which showed a flying object approaching the dome of the Kremlin Senate building that overlooks Red Square – the location of next week’s Victory Day parade. The object exploded in a bright burst of light just before reaching the building.
Meanwhile Zelensky denied any Ukrainian involvement, claiming that Ukrainians “don’t attack Putin, or Moscow – we fight on our territory.” A senior Ukrainian official said that the incident suggested Moscow was preparing a “terrorist provocation.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington had not been able to confirm the reported attack, and that Russian claims should be taken with “a very large shaker of salt.”
However, Russian leadership has already taken the alleged incident to heart, with the chairman of the Russia Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, calling for the use of “weapons capable of stopping and destroying the Kiev terrorist regime.”
In addition, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council and former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, said that the alleged attack “leaves us no option but to physically eliminate Zelensky and his clique.”
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