Kremlin: Ukrainian drones aimed at Putin’s office were shot down

A pair of Ukrainian drones depicted by a video image of an explosion over the Kremlin dome on Tuesday, May 2, was alleged by Moscow to be “a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life” of President Vladimir Putin. The presidential press service said they were shot down by “the Russian military and special services.” Putin who was not in his Kremlin office at the time was unharmed, said the statement. The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit,” the statement continued.

The incident took place on the eve of the May 9 Parade which marks Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany. Witnesses reported they heard two powerful explosions in the vicinity of the Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin had been working elsewhere at his Novo Ogaryovo villa outside Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the incident “obvious incitement of the situation before May 9. An expected trick from our adversaries.” Ukraine’s goal is “liberating its occupied territories, not attacking others,” the spokesman added.

Straight after the event, Moscow’s mayor Sergei Sobyan banned all UAV flights over the city.