Russia has accused Ukraine of being behind a drone attack that damaged at least two buildings in the capital Moscow early on Monday morning. The Russian defence ministry said two drones were “suppressed and crashed”, adding that there were no casualties. One drone reportedly fell close to the defence ministry.
Ukrainian officials are yet to comment, but they rarely claim responsibility for attacks inside Russia. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the drone strikes hit “non-residential” buildings around 04:00 local time (01:00 GMT). He added that the buildings had not sustained any major damage. However, state news agencies reported that some drone fragments were found just 2km (1.2 miles) away from the ministry’s buildings.
The Russian defence ministry released a statement on Telegram, saying, “A Kyiv regime attempt to carry out a terrorist act using two drones on objects on the territory of the city of Moscow was stopped.” The state-run Tass news agency also reported that drone debris was found along the city’s Komsomolsky Avenue. Traffic along the route was blocked, and emergency services were seen working at the scene.
A high-rise office building on Likhachev Avenue was also damaged, with footage published on the military Zvezda TV channel showing missing windows at the top of the building. Moscow has accused Ukraine of several drone attacks on its territory in recent months. Earlier this month, Russia claimed that Ukraine launched a drone attack on Moscow, which forced flights to be diverted from Vnukovo International Airport. Ukraine did not claim responsibility for the attack.
In May, Kyiv denied carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin, which Russia said was an attempt on President Vladimir Putin’s life. The incident on Monday comes just a day after Russia targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa with fresh missile strikes, destroying the historical Transfiguration Cathedral. Unesco, the UN’s cultural agency, condemned the attack on the historic center of Odesa.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed retaliation for the attack, stating, “They will definitely feel this. The target of all these missiles is not just cities, villages, or people. Their target is humanity and the foundations of our entire European culture.”
What potential consequences could arise from the international community condemning Ukraine’s actions in the drone attack, as called for by Moscow’s mayor
Id the attack was a ”provocation” and called on the international community to condemn Ukraine’s actions.
The drone attack in Moscow raised tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both countries accusing each other of aggression. This incident comes at a time when the two nations are already locked in a bitter conflict over the annexation of Crimea and ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Russia’s accusation that Ukraine was behind the drone attack is consistent with its long-standing narrative of Ukraine as a destabilizing force in the region. The Russian defence ministry’s claim that the drones were “suppressed and crashed” suggests that Russian forces successfully countered the attack.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to the accusation. It is worth noting that Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia, making it difficult to determine the true source of this drone attack.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin quickly labeled the attack as a “provocation” and called for international condemnation of Ukraine’s actions. This response reflects Russia’s efforts to rally support against Ukraine and portray itself as the victim in this conflict.
The drone attack in Moscow serves to further escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbating an already volatile situation. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact the ongoing conflict between the two nations and whether it will lead to further military escalation.
