MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday said it had shot down two drones aimed at the residence of President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in what it called a “terrorist” assassination bid against the Russian leader.
“Two unmanned vehicles aimed at the Kremlin were put out of action during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday,” the presidency said in a statement.
The statement added that the remnants of the drones fell inside the Kremlin premises but did not wound anyone.
Kremlin stated the operation was “a planned terrorist activity and an attempt on the life of President Putin.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin was working at his residence on Wednesday and would still participate in a scheduled WWII Victory Day military parade on Red Square next week as planned.
Moscow mayor bans unauthorized drone flights
Moscow’s mayor banned unauthorized drone flights over Moscow. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement that drone flights would not be allowed unless special permission had been obtained from “government authorities”.
The news came as Ukraine prepared for a fresh offensive against Russian troops that had been months in the planning.
In possible signs that preparations are being sped up, the frontline Kherson city in southern Ukraine declared a long curfew for residents, and sabotage activities behind Russian lines intensified.
Kherson, which was re-captured by Ukrainian troops in November, will be under curfew from late Friday until Monday morning.
Regional authorities said this was “for law enforcement officials to do their job, ” but similar long curfews have also been used for security forces and arms movements.
“During these 58 long hours, it is forbidden to move on the city streets. Kherson city will also be closed for entry and exit,” Kherson’s regional military administration head, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Telegram.
He asked residents to stock up on food items and medicine and said people could go out for short walks near their houses or visit shops but should always carry identity documents with them.
The curfew announcement came as Ukrainian officials said three people were killed and five wounded in a Russian strike on Wednesday on Kherson’s only working hypermarket.
