The video shows an exploding drone approaching the Kremlin
Russia said it shot down two drones aimed at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday night and accuses Ukraine of trying to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Unconfirmed footage released to social media appears to show an object flying over the Kremlin before a small explosion.
Ukraine says it has nothing to do with possible drone strikes.
1 of 1 Video image shows object on the dome of the Russian government building — Photo: Ostorozhno Novosti/Disclosure/Via Portal Video image shows object on the dome of the Russian government building — Photo: Ostorozhno Novosti/Disclosure/Via Portal
- Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to kill Putin with drones; watch video
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said through a spokesman that Ukraine is focused on liberating its own territory after Russia invaded the country last year.
Another official told the BBC the reported incident indicated that Russia could be preparing “a largescale terrorist provocation” in Ukraine.
Russia said the two drones aimed at the Kremlin were deactivated using electronic radar technologies.
Putin’s spokesman said the Russian president was not in the Kremlin at the time of the incident.
A Kremlin statement said: “Last night the Kiev regime attempted to carry out an attack on the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Kremlin using unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Moscow said it viewed it “as a planned act of terrorism and an attempt to assassinate the President,” and Russia “reserves the right to take retaliatory action where and when deemed necessary.”
Putin has a very high level of personal security, and the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, says it’s surprising to think the drones could have gotten anywhere near the Kremlin.
Putin will continue to carry out his agenda as usual, the Kremlin said. He was working in Novo Ogaryovo near Moscow on Wednesday.
Footage released on Russian social media showed smoke over central Moscow in the early hours of Wednesday.
Fragments of the drones landed at the scene of the incident, but no one was injured and there was no damage to buildings, the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin also noted that the incident happened shortly before the Victory Day parade in Russia on May 9, which foreign officials are expected to attend.
The parade is to go ahead as planned, according to Russian news agencies, citing the Kremlin.
“What happened in Moscow was obviously planned to escalate the situation before May 9,” said Ukrainian Presidential Spokesman Sergei Nikiforov.
The mayor of Moscow on Wednesday announced a ban on unauthorized drone flights over the city.
Drone flights would require special government approval, Sergei Sobyanin said.
Several Russian cities have already announced that they will scale back this year’s Victory Day celebrations.
Russian officials cited security reasons and attacks by proUkrainian forces for the changes.
There have been explosions and fires in Russia in recent weeks.