JAKARTA - Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of attacking the Kremlin with drones overnight in a failed attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin.
A senior Ukrainian Presidential official has denied the allegations - the most serious Moscow has brought to Kyiv in more than 15 months of war - saying it indicated Moscow was preparing a massive "terrorist provocation".
The Kremlin says Russia has the right to retaliate, while Moscow's hardline group demands quick retaliation against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Two unmanned aerial vehicles were directed to the Kremlin. As a result of the timely action taken by the military and special services with the use of a war radar system, the device is not working," the Kremlin said in a statement.
"We consider this action a planned terrorist act and an attempt to kill the president, which was carried out on the eve of Victory Day, Parade 9 May, where the presence of foreign guests is also planned. The Russian side has the right to take retaliatory action wherever and whenever deemed necessary," the statement continued.
Baza, a Telegram channel with links to Russian law enforcement agencies, posted a video showing objects flying near the dome of the Kremlin Senate building overlooking Red Square - a parade venue for Victory Day - before exploding and causing intense bursts of light shortly before reaching the dome. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video.
Separately, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in comments sent to Reuters: "Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks in the Kremlin. We did not attack the Kremlin because, first of all, it did not complete any military duties."
"In my opinion, it is very clear that the'report on the attack on the Kremlin' and simultaneously the alleged detention of Ukrainian sabotizers in Crimea... clearly shows preparations for a large-scale terrorist provocation by Russia in the days to come," he added.
Meanwhile, the presidential administration said fragments of the drone had spread across the Kremlin complex, but there were no casualties or material damage.
RIA news agency said President Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time, to be precise working at Novo Ogaryovo's residence outside Moscow.
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Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Wednesday the city had imposed a direct ban on drone flights that did not have a permit.
Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out many cross-border attacks since the start of the war, including attacks in December on remote air bases within Russian territory housing strategic bombers equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
In February, a drone crashed in Colombona, about 110 km (70 miles) from downtown Moscow.
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