By Oyintari Ben
According to Russia, Ukrainian drones attacked affluent areas of Moscow on Tuesday, in what one politician described as the most hazardous strike since World War Two. Kyiv was also attacked by air for the third time in 24 hours.
The battle has mostly been fought inside Ukraine since Russia launched soldiers into its neighbour in February last year. However, Moscow reported some strikes on its territory, one of which it claims was an attempt at President Vladimir Putin’s assassination.
The early-morning raid on Tuesday targeted some of Moscow’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, including those where Putin and other elites live. He later attended a briefing on the attack in the Kremlin, according to a spokesperson.
Although Baza, a Telegram channel with connections to the security services, claimed more than 25 drones were engaged, the Russian defence ministry only confirmed that eight Kyiv-sent drones targeting people were shot down or diverted.
The mayor of Moscow reported that two individuals were hurt while some apartment buildings were momentarily evacuated. Residents reported hearing loud explosions and then smelling petrol. A drone was shot down, and a smoke plume was captured on camera.
Maxim Ivanov, a lawmaker, referred to it as the most severe attack on Moscow since the Nazis, and he claimed that no Russian could now evade “the new reality.”
Two drones exploded over the Kremlin earlier this month in an incident Russia blamed on Kyiv and claimed was directed at Putin.
Alexander Khinshtein, another Russian member, warned that “the sabotage and terrorist attacks against Ukraine will only increase” and demanded a drastic bolstering of defences. “Do not underestimate the enemy!”
In an apparent effort to lower morale, Russia has struck Kyiv 17 times with drones or missiles since the beginning of May. However, Ukraine claims that Patriot anti-missile defences it received from the United States have a 100% interception rate.
To evict Russian occupiers from land taken during Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” to “denazify” its neighbour, Kyiv has promised a counteroffensive armed with Western weapons.
Opponents in the West refer to it as an imperialist land grab.
