Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting a drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s office in the Kremlin overnight. State news agency RIA Novosti reports that two drones targeting the Kremlin were taken down.
The Russian president was not hurt; his schedule remained unchanged, the Kremlin reports.
“Military and special services took timely actions using radiolocation systems and managed to disable the UAVs. The wreckage caused no injuries or damage,” RIA Novosti cites the Kremlin statement.
The Russian side “reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit,” the Kremlin added. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the military parade scheduled for Victory Day, 9 May, will be held as planned. He also added that Putin was not in the Kremlin during the attack.
Local residents reported hearing two explosions overnight nearby the Kremlin. Footage of this was posted online. Locals also witnessed sparks in the sky and people with torches beside the fortress wall, a local Telegram channel reported. The illumination of the Kremlin and the Moskva river bank was turned off.
Moscow’s mayor Sergey Sobaynin has announced that launching drones is no longer allowed within the city limits starting from today, “except for the UAVs used by bodies of state power”.
“The decision was made to prevent unauthorised use of UAVs, which may complicate the work of law enforcement agencies. I remind you that the unauthorised launch of a UAV is an offence and entails administrative and criminal liability,” he said.
