Russia Accuses Ukraine of Attempted Assassination of Putin by Drones

The Kremlin announced that Russia reserved the right to respond, and extremists called for swift revenge against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Two Drones Targeting the Kremlin

“Two drones were directed towards the Kremlin. Thanks to timely measures taken by the armed forces and special services, and with the help of radar warfare systems, the devices were neutralized,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

“We consider these acts as a planned terrorist attack and an attempt on the life of the president, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 parade, which is also expected to be attended by foreign guests…

“The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it deems appropriate.”

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Ukrainian Denial

“Ukraine has nothing to do with the drone attacks on the Kremlin. We do not attack the Kremlin because, first of all, it does not solve any military task.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, added: “In my opinion, it is absolutely obvious that the ‘reports of an attack on the Kremlin’ and simultaneously the alleged detention of Ukrainian saboteurs in Crimea…clearly indicate the preparation of a large-scale terrorist provocation by Russia in the coming days.”

Demands for Retaliation

Vyacheslav Volodin, influential speaker of the Russian parliament’s lower house, issued a statement demanding the use of “weapons capable of stopping and destroying the terrorist regime in Kyiv.” Margarita Simonyan, head of the state-run RT television channel, wrote on Telegram: “Maybe now things will really start?”

Putin Was Not at the Kremlin

The presidential administration’s statement said fragments of the drones had been scattered on the territory of the Kremlin complex, but there were no casualties or material damage. The RIA news agency reported that Putin was not at the Kremlin at the time and was working Wednesday at his Novo Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow.

Victory Day is a major holiday commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and an opportunity for Putin to rally Russians behind what he calls his “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Russia celebrates the occasion with a massive military parade on Red Square, for which seats have already been set up. The state-run TASS news agency said the parade – for which the Kremlin announced increased security last week – would still take place.