An unprecedented drone attack has been launched on Moscow and the Moscow Region, reportedly orchestrated by Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
As confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, eight drones participated in this aggressive action.
Russian defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed five of these, while the remaining three were neutralized via electronic warfare.
Minor property damage and slight injuries to two individuals were the aftermath of this attack, with the victims not requiring hospitalization.
In light of these events, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the Kiev government of engaging in a campaign of fear.
Responding to Svetlana Chupseva’s question, the head of the non-profit Agency of Strategic Initiatives, Putin suggested the drone assault on Moscow was an effort by Ukraine to provoke a similar retaliatory response from Russia.
Linking this drone attack to an earlier strike by the Russian Armed Forces on Ukraine’s military intelligence headquarters, Putin pointed out, “Russia strikes the territory of Ukraine, but does so ‘with high-accuracy long-range weapons and targets precisely military infrastructure facilities, or warehouses with ammunition or fuel and lubricants used in combat operations'”.
He contrasted this approach with the Kiev regime’s tactic of intimidating Russian citizens and “hitting residential buildings.”
Putin declared unequivocally, “This is a clear sign of terrorist activity.”
The Russian leader further raised alarm about other dangers emanating from Kiev, including “attempts to disrupt the operation of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant” and plans “to use some dirty devices related to the nuclear industry.”
He noted the drone attack’s aim was “to trigger a response from Russia,” warning Ukrainians of what their current leadership is instigating.
Discussing Moscow’s defensive response to the drone assault, Putin commented that it performed “normally, satisfactorily,” but quickly added that “there is room for improvement.”
Drawing on Russia’s experience at the Khmeimim airbase in Syria, he highlighted the need “to make the air defense of the capital tighter.”
These comments have sparked worries in the West that Russia might interpret this incident as a justification for potential nuclear action.
The United States, while condemning the attacks in Moscow, has held Russia responsible for the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The State Department spokesperson elaborated, “As a general matter, we do not support attacks inside of Russia.
We have been focused on providing Ukraine with the equipment and training they need to retake their own sovereign territory.”
As of now, the U.S. is still assessing the Moscow incident, the first of its kind targeting residential buildings since the beginning of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
