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Ukraine attempted to assassinate the Russian president Vladimir Putin Moscow officials claim that in an overnight drone attack on the Kremlin.
Officials said that the Ukrainian military targeted the Russian parliament with two unmanned aerial vehicles, but these were deflected by the army.
The Kremlin said the alleged attack, which it dubbed a “terrorist act”, did not cause any damage or casualties.
It said Mr Putin was not inside the Kremlin at the time of the alleged attack. The Kremlin said he was safe and working as per his schedule.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
(EPA)
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. The Kremlin presented no evidence from the reported incident and its statement contained few details.
Tass quoted the statement as saying the Kremlin regarded the development as a deliberate attempt on Mr Putin’s life ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
The statement said: “Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed towards the Kremlin. As a result of timely action by the army and special services with the use of a radar combat system, the devices were put out of action.”
“We see these actions as a well-planned terrorist act carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 parade and an attempt on the life of the President, in which foreign guests are also planned to attend.
“The Russian side reserves the right to retaliate where and when it deems appropriate.”
Officials said two drones were aimed towards the Kremlin, Russia’s parliament
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Earlier, Russia had said that a massive fire broke out at an oil depot behind the Russian border.
According to Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, the fire broke out at the oil depot in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, which lies east of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
He did not say what caused the fire, which was described as extremely difficult to extinguish. But some Russian media outlets said it was possibly caused by an overnight Ukrainian drone strike. There was no official comment on that possibility.
Russian news site Baja said local residents heard an explosion shortly before the fire broke out.
Military analysts believe Ukraine is targeting supply lines in the Russian rear Kyiv prepared for a possible counter-offensive amid improving weather conditions and received large quantities of arms and ammunition from its western allies.
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