A video showing a drone crashing over Kremlin in Russia is being widely shared as “proof” of Ukraine’s attempt to “assassinate” President Vladimir Putin. The video shows a drone flying over the top of the Kremlin Senate and hovering for a second before bursting into flames. Kremlin alleged that Ukraine was behind the attempt on Putin’s life. “Ukraine tried to attack the Kremlin with drones. It is a terrorist act and we have the right to respond,” news agency AP quoted a Kremlin statement.
According to a report by The Guardian, Ukraine allegedly used two drones in an attack against Russian President Vladimir Putin, as stated by Russian state news agency RIA. However, the drones were disabled by Russian defence officers, and no harm was done to Putin or buildings in the Kremlin. The RIA deemed the attack a “planned terrorist act and an assassination attempt” on the president, occurring on the eve of Victory Day, which is the May 9 Parade. Despite the attempt, Putin continued with his schedule and worked as usual outside Moscow in Novo Ogaryovo. The report warned that Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures.
The New York Times reported that there was another alleged attempt on Putin’s life the previous week. A C-4 explosive-laden drone crashed without causing any damage, and the target was the Rudnevo Industrial Park, where Putin was supposed to visit.
Last year, Ukraine claimed several attempts on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s life since the Russian invasion on February 24. The Ukrainian government had prepared for operations in the event of Zelenskyy’s death as a precautionary measure. The country claimed that four assassination attempts were made within a month of the invasion.
Last week, a drone attack triggered a massive fire at a fuel storage facility in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, news agency Reuters quoted the Moscow-installed governor as saying. No casualty has been reported.