JAKARTA - Ukraine launched a drone strike on Moscow on Tuesday, although the air defenses destroyed the eight drones, Russia said, with the 15-month war now reaching the capital.
Drone attacks deep within Russia have escalated in recent weeks ahead of Ukraine's retaliatory attacks, with attacks on oil pipelines and even the Kremlin earlier this month alleged Moscow was carried out by Ukraine.
The wreckage of a drone hit several of Moscow's most prestigious areas, including Leninsky Prospekt, a major road built in Josef Stalin's era, and the western Moscow area where Russian elites - including President Vladimir Putin - live.
Residents in southwestern Moscow said they heard a loud explosion at around 02.00 a.m. to 03.00 a.m. GMT, followed by a smell of gasoline. Several films of drones shot down and puffs of smoke rose over the Moscow horizon.
President Putin was briefed in the morning on a drone strike, the Kremlin said, adding that Russian air defenses and military had worked well, so there was no threat to Moscow residents.
"It is clear that this is a Kyiv regime attack," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
"And this must really be understood clearly," he said.
Peskov added that the current Russian president has no plans to deliver a special speech to the Russian people, adding President Putin was still working in the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were injured, one of whom was hospitalized, in an early attack that morning. Moscow Airport remains open. No deaths were reported.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said electronic counter-drone technology was used to divert three Ukrainian drones, while five others were shot down, including by the Pantsir missile system that helped defend Moscow.
Separately, an assistant to President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Kyiv was directly involved in the Moscow offensive, but expects more attacks to come.
"Of course we are happy to watch and estimate the increase in the number of attacks. But of course, we have nothing to do with this directly," said Mykhailo Podolyak.
Earlier, Kyiv denied being behind a drone strike in the Kremlin earlier this month, although The New York Times reported that US intelligence believed Ukraine was responsible.
Meanwhile, Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein of the United Russia's ruling camp said the attack on Moscow was likely to escalate.
"Sabotage and terrorist attacks of Ukraine will increase. It is important to radically strengthen defense and security measures, especially in terms of fighting drones. This includes finally passing the necessary laws," Khinshtein explained.
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