The Russian presidency claims two Ukrainian drones targeted the Kremlin on the night between May 2 and 3, 2023, in an attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin.
Unverified footage shows what looks like a small fixed-wing drone flying toward the dome of the Kremlin Senate before detonating.
“As a result of timely actions taken by the military and special services with the use of radar warfare systems, the vehicles were put out of action,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the President, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9th Parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned,” it added. “The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit.”
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti that Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the alleged attack.
Following the incident, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a ban on the operation of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles in the city. The Russian military parade on May 9, 2023, which celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, is maintained.