Russia is claiming that Ukraine carried out two nighttime drone attacks targeting the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s presidential press service has reported.
According to a May 3 statement released by the press office, the twin drone attacks occurred late on May 2.
Both drones fell on the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow—without causing casualties or material damage—after being disabled by “electronic warfare measures,” according to the statement.
Moscow regards the incident as an “act of terrorism” and reserves the right to retaliate “in the manner, place, and time of its choosing.”
“We consider this a pre-planned terrorist action and an attempt on the life of the Russian president,” the statement reads, going on to assert that Putin’s daily itinerary hadn’t been affected.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters shortly afterward that Putin wasn’t in the Kremlin complex when the alleged attacks occurred.
Kyiv, for its part, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the reports. However, a “senior Ukrainian presidential official” cited by Reuters said Kyiv wasn’t involved in the purported incident.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has announced a ban on all unauthorized drone flights–effective immediately–throughout the Russian capital.
Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine early last year, drones have been used with increasing frequency by both sides of the conflict.
Late last month, Ukrainian combat drones struck a fuel storage facility in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, setting the facility ablaze.
According to Ukrainian officials, 40,000 tons of fuel that were intended for use by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet–headquartered in Sevastopol–were destroyed by the strikes.
On May 3, a Russian drone struck an oil facility in the central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi, resulting in a massive fire, Ukrainian officials said.
The Epoch Times was unable to immediately verify the reports.
By Adam Morrow
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