MOSCOW: Russia has issued a stern warning of “tough retaliatory measures” following recent drone attacks in central Moscow and Crimea, the annexed Ukrainian peninsula. Ukraine claimed responsibility for an attack on the Russian capital, raising tensions between the two countries.
The Russian foreign ministry condemned the drone attacks, labeling them as “terrorist methods” employed by Ukraine’s military and political leadership to intimidate civilians. The ministry accused the West of exacerbating the situation in Ukraine, attributing the “brazen actions” of Kyiv to the international community’s focus on escalating tensions in the region.
Russia Claims Ukrainian Drones Targeted Buildings in Moscow
Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drones targeted two buildings in Moscow and an ammunition depot in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. According to AFP, a Ukrainian defence source referred to the attack on Moscow as a “special operation” executed by Kyiv’s military intelligence.
The drone strike on Moscow, which occurred over 500 kilometres (310 miles) from Ukraine, came after Ukraine pledged to retaliate for a Russian missile attack on Odesa, a city on the Black Sea. The Russian missile strike in Odesa resulted in two fatalities and caused damage to a historic cathedral, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
