“Russia accuses Ukraine of drone attack on Kremlin, Ukraine denies involvement”

Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting an attack on the Kremlin last night to kill President Putin. Two drones would have been used, which would have been shot down by the Russian army.

According to the Kremlin, parts of the drone landed on the site where the Russian government is located, but there would be no damage. Russia also said no injuries were reported.

Ukraine says it has nothing to do with the attack. An attack would go nowhere and would provoke Russia to “even more radical actions,” says presidential adviser Podoljak. He considers it possible that a Russian resistance movement is responsible for the action. “Ukraine is waging a defensive war and not attacking any targets on Russia’s territory.”

The adviser thinks Russia is planning a large-scale “terror attack” on Ukraine sometime in the next few days and is using the incident to legitimize that attack.

President Putin will continue with his planned activities today, a spokesperson told the state news agency Tass. According to Russian state media, Putin today works from his Novo-Ogaryovo estate outside Moscow.

The Kremlin says Russia reserves the right to “take retaliatory action as and when we see fit”. A spokesperson also speaks of a “terrorist act”.

US Secretary of State Blinken says he cannot confirm the reports. “We simply don’t know,” he told The Washington Post. The minister does say that all reports coming from Russia should be taken “with a large grain of salt”.

Shortly before news of the drone attack made international news, Moscow Mayor Sobjanin announced a drone ban in his city. Only drones used by the authorities are allowed to be used, he says. Whether that ban has anything to do with last night’s events is not known.