Russia has accused the United States of orchestrating a drone attack on the Kremlin, which it alleges was an assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin. During a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russia is aware that the U.S. is selecting targets...
Russia has accused the United States of orchestrating a drone attack on the Kremlin, which it alleges was an assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin.
During a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russia is aware that the U.S. is selecting targets for Ukraine to execute, emphasizing Washington’s role in the incident.
Despite offering no concrete evidence to support these accusations, Russia maintains its stance, while both the U.S. and Ukraine have denied involvement.
Drone incident at the Kremlin
The alleged drone attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, with video footage displaying two flying objects approaching the Kremlin and one detonating in a bright flash.
Peskov dismissed denials from both Kyiv and Washington as “absolutely ridiculous,” maintaining that decisions regarding such operations are made in Washington, not Kyiv.
The Russian government has branded the alleged attack as terrorism and a blatant attempt on Putin’s life, asserting its right to retaliate without specifying the nature of potential countermeasures.
Russia is currently conducting an urgent investigation into the matter, although no timeline for the release of findings has been provided.
Ukraine and U.S. response
Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement in the alleged drone strike. Sergiy Nykyforov, the Ukrainian presidential spokesman, emphasized that President Zelensky has consistently stated that Ukraine focuses on liberating its own territory rather than attacking others.
U.S. officials are still assessing the incident, claiming they have no information regarding the responsible party.
Analysis of Security Breach
Regardless of the true nature of the event, the fact that the Kremlin has admitted to a security breach within its premises is noteworthy. Moscow reported that the alleged attack took place early Wednesday, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirming that President Putin was not in the building at the time.
CNN has analyzed video footage of the incident, corroborating the Kremlin’s claim that two drones were flown above the Kremlin early Wednesday. However, the analysis did not reveal any evidence of Ukrainian involvement.
A video showing smoke rising from the Kremlin was first circulated on a local neighborhood channel on the social media platform Telegram at 2:37 a.m. local time Wednesday. Around 12 hours later, Russian state media outlets TASS and RIA reported the incident.
What the drone explosion footage shows
Another video displaying the moment a drone exploded above the Kremlin has also emerged on social media. In this video, the drone appears to be flying toward the building’s domed roof, followed by a small explosion.
Two individuals, seemingly holding flashlights, can be seen climbing on the dome and ducking down just before the explosion.
The Kremlin Press Service has called the alleged drone attack an “attempt on the President’s life” and an “act of terrorism,” blaming Ukraine. However, Kyiv has refuted these allegations, asserting that Russia should be held accountable for various acts of terrorism.
The incident has further strained the already tense relationship between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. As the investigation continues, the international community awaits further clarification on the matter.