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Thwarted Ukrainian Drone Attack on Kremlin: What is Known So Far

© Sputnik / Alexey Danichev / Go to the mediabankSpasskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin and Pokrovsky Cathedral.
Spasskaya tower of the Moscow Kremlin and Pokrovsky Cathedral. - Sputnik International, 1920, 03.05.2023
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The attack against the Kremlin has been regarded by Moscow as a terrorist act and an attempt on the life of Vladimir Putin.
In the early hours of May 3, two Ukrainian UAVs approached the Kremlin – an iconic landmark in the city of Moscow that serves as the official residence of the Russian president.
The approaching drones were spotted by Russian security personnel on-site who immediately moved to intercept and neutralize the threat through the use of electronic warfare equipment.
As a result, both UAVs were downed, their debris scattering on the Kremlin's premises. The Kremlin press service stated that no injuries or "material damage" were caused by this attack.
However, in the footage allegedly showing the aftermath of the UAV attack that has since emerged on social media, smoke can be seen rising over the Senate Palace, one of the buildings located in the grounds of the Kremlin.
People are seen visiting the Floating Bridge in Zaryadye Park in Moscow. File photo - Sputnik International, 1920, 03.05.2023
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Kiev's Terrorist Attack on Kremlin Sets Dangerous Global Precedent

What Happened to President Putin?

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not present at the Kremlin during the attack and continues carrying out his duties normally, his press service has revealed.

What Did Kremlin Spokesman Say

Attempts by Kiev and Washington to disown the attempted drone attack on the Kremlin are ridiculous, decisions on such terrorist attacks are made by the United States, and Ukraine executes them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
"Such attempts to disown this [attack] both in Kiev and in Washington — they are, of course, absolutely ridiculous. We are well aware that decisions on such actions and on such terrorist attacks are made not in Kiev, but in Washington. And Kiev is already doing what it [US] tells it to do," Peskov told a briefing.
No special address by Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in light of the drone attack, Peskov added.
Two copper layers on the Senate Palace's dome were damaged from the Ukrainian drone attack on the Kremlin, Peskov said. The presidential administration assured Sputnik that they would be replaced by tomorrow.
In a statement issued on May 3, the Kremlin described this incident as a "planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation" Vladimir Putin.

How Did the City of Moscow React

On May 3, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced a ban on the use of UAVs in the city, saying that the only exception is for drones "used by decisions of state authorities."
He did not, however, make any reference to the attack on Kremlin.
It also appears that the drone attack did little to disrupt normal life in Moscow, with Russian media correspondents reporting from the scene that no additional security buildup has been spotted near the Kremlin where city residents and foreign tourists could be seen strolling on the May 3 afternoon.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). - Sputnik International, 1920, 03.05.2023
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How Did Russian Foreign Ministry React?

Russia's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that there is no doubt that Kiev was behind the attempted terrorist attack against Kremlin. Moscow will respond to the drone attack on the Kremlin in proportion with the level of threat Kiev posed for the Russian leadership, the ministry added.
Russia's foreign ministry said that it is confident that all those responsible for the drone attack will be found and punished severely.

How Did Russian Officials React?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be officially designated as a terrorist, said Russian MP Oleg Morozov.
According to Morozov, the attack on the Kremlin signifies a new stage in Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, and that an adequate military response is required in order for Russia to show that actions such as this UAV attack won't go unpunished.
Russia's State Duma (parliament's lower house) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has also insisted that the whole "Nazi regime in Kiev" should be recognized as a terrorist organization that, having seized control of Ukraine, now threatens the safety of Russia, Europe and the entire world.
He added that "politicians in Western countries that supply Zelensky's regime with weapons" should realize that they now became complicit of "terrorist activity."
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Russia has no other options but to eliminate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the recent drone attack on the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kiev regime is behind everything it is doing according to its American and Western handlers, who have instilled in Kiev a sense of absolute impunity, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
"Everything the Kiev regime is doing is primarily the responsibility of its Washington, London and, in general, NATO creators and handlers. They destroyed the legitimate authority in Ukraine, put adventurers and bandits in charge, provided them with money and weapons, instilled a sense of absolute permissiveness and impunity, and provided political cover and military support," she wrote on her Telegram channel.
Flags of Russia and the United States at the American Embassy in Moscow. - Sputnik International, 1920, 04.05.2023
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How Did Kiev React?

Officials from the Ukrainian President's Office claimed that Kiev is not responsible for the attack on the Kremlin, with one of these officials, Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, even attempting to blame this terrorist act on some unspecified "local resistance forces."
Podolyak, however, also claimed that Ukraine "wages an exclusively defensive war and does not attack targets on the territory of the Russian Federation," despite the fact that Ukrainian forces repeatedly attacked civilian infrastructure in Russia during the past several months.
The regime in Kiev had also previously displayed reluctance to accept responsibility for other terrorist attacks committed by its forces, such as, for example, the explosion at the bridge across the Kerch Strait, which was perpetrated by Ukrainian terrorists.

What Did US Say?

The US had no role in the drone attack on the Kremlin, US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby claimed. The official added that the US had no information on who was behind the drone assault.

How Did Other Countries React?

All parties to the Ukrainian crisis should avoid actions that can result in further escalation between the sides, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday.
"China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and clear, all parties should avoid actions that could lead to further escalation," Mao told reporters.
Syria strongly condemns the drone attack on the Russian presidential residence in the Kremlin and considers it to be a terrorist attack, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.
"Syria strongly condemns the drone attacks on the Kremlin by the Ukrainian regime, ruled by the United States and its allies, and considers it a terrorist act," the ministry tweeted.

Damascus also supports Russia’s right to self-defense in the event of such dangerous terrorist attacks, the ministry added.
UAV attack on the Kremlin is a strange and mysterious incident, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said.
"I will not go into hypotheses, [since] there are many. But this episode is strange. It is poorly understood. So I will not go beyond saying that it is strange or mysterious," she told French media.

What is the Senate Palace Where UAV Was Downed?

The Kremlin Senate is a historic building located in the center of Moscow, Russia. Built in the 18th century, it was originally used as the main administrative building for the Russian Empire. Today, it serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.
The Kremlin Senate is divided into two parts - the Old Senate and the New Senate. The Old Senate was built in the 18th century and served as the seat of the Senate of the Russian Empire. The New Senate was built in the 19th century and was used as the headquarters of the Soviet government.
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