Global Courant 2023-05-03 19:33:19
Russia said on Wednesday it shot down two drones aimed at President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin residence in what it called a Ukrainian “terrorist” assassination attempt.
Kiev said it had “nothing to do” with the alleged attack and suggested it was “staged” by Moscow.
Russia announced the incident following a series of extraordinary sabotage attacks leading up to the celebration of the country’s most important May 9 holiday, the Soviet Union’s victory over the Nazis.
“Today at night, the Kiev regime attempted to attack the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Kremlin with unmanned aerial vehicles,” the Kremlin said.
“Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin…the devices were turned off,” a Kremlin statement said.
The operation was described as “a planned act of terrorism and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation”.
Moscow said Putin was not injured and there were no casualties.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was at work on Wednesday at his residence near Moscow and would still take part in a planned World War II parade on Red Square next week as scheduled.
Kiev said it was not targeting the Kremlin.
“Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks on the Kremlin,” said presidential spokesman Mikhaylo Podolyak.
“Such staged reports from Russia should be regarded solely as an attempt to prepare background information for a large-scale terrorist attack on Ukraine,” Podolyak said.
In Red Square, AFP saw nothing unusual with people walking and no reinforced police presence. Banners have been set up ahead of the May 9 parade.
Moscow has vowed that the parade – central to Putin’s rule – will continue as usual.
– Victory Day Plans –
The allegedly foiled operation comes on the heels of a series of incidents – including sabotage attacks on trains – leading up to the popular celebrations of World War II.
In the past five days, two trains have been derailed by explosions, fires at oil depots near and in Crimea and power lines near St Petersburg.
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Officials in Russia said they were dealing with a major fire at a fuel depot close to the bridge to the Russian-annexed crime on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
An emergency services source said the fire was caused by a drone, according to TASS news agency.
They strike as Moscow prepares for May 9 celebrations.
A number of towns near the border with Ukraine, as well as further afield, have canceled traditional parades.
But Moscow has vowed that the parade on Red Square will continue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Moscow parade will go ahead as expected, with no changes to plans, news agencies said.
The mayor of Moscow announced a ban on unauthorized drone flights over the Russian capital.
Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement that drone flights are prohibited unless a special permit is obtained from “government authorities”.
The news from the Kremlin came as Ukraine prepared for a new offensive to repel Russian forces from territory they currently hold in the east and south.
– Preparations counter-offensive –
As possible signs that preparations are intensifying, the front-line city of Kherson in southern Ukraine declared a long curfew for residents and sabotage behind Russian lines intensified.
Kherson, which was recaptured by Ukrainian forces in November, is under a curfew from Friday evening to Monday morning.
Regional officials said this was “for law enforcement to do their jobs,” but similar lengthy curfews have also been used for troop and weapons movements in the past.
“During these 58 hours, it is forbidden to move through the streets of the city. The city will also be closed for entry and exit,” the head of Kherson’s regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, told Telegram.
He advised residents to stock up on food and medicine and said people could take short walks near their homes or visit shops and carry identity documents with them at all times.
Kherson was captured by Russian forces in the early days of the invasion last year and remained under Russian occupation until November 2022.
After a sustained campaign of sabotage attacks behind Russian lines, Russian troops withdrew from the city.
They crossed to the east side of the Dnipro River, which now demarcates part of the front line in southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Finland, NATO’s newest member, welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a surprise visit to take part in a summit with the leaders of the five Nordic countries that have been major providers of military aid.
“Being a member of NATO and supporting alliances to gain support requires basic diplomatic work. Ukraine is doing it today,” Daria Zarivna, Ukraine’s presidential communications adviser, wrote on Telegram.
boron/bp
