- Dec 29, 2008
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Moscow was hit by drones Tuesday morning, in what appeared to be the first attack on residential areas of the Russian capital since the invasion of Ukraine.
It comes weeks after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin itself and following days of deadly Russian bombardment against civilians in Kyiv, as events far from the front lines take the spotlight ahead of Ukraine’s planned counteroffensive.
Tuesday's incident caused damage to some buildings in Moscow and forced residents to evacuate homes, officials said, though the Kremlin largely shrugged off the dramatic display that its war was increasingly coming home.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attack sought to intimidate the public, and commended the work of the capital’s air defense.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that eight unmanned aerial vehicles were involved in the strikes. All drones were destroyed, it added, with three losing control after being jammed and the other five shot down by anti-aircraft systems.
The ministry blamed Ukraine for what it called a “terrorist attack.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview that his country "has nothing directly to do" with the drone attacks on Moscow but was "pleased to observe and predict an increase in the number of attacks."
www.nbcnews.com
Other sources say three drones got through Russia's air defenses, but the extent of the damage is unknown. The area hit is home to the rich and powerful in Moscow. Putin has his residence there and many government agencies have offices there.
It comes weeks after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin itself and following days of deadly Russian bombardment against civilians in Kyiv, as events far from the front lines take the spotlight ahead of Ukraine’s planned counteroffensive.
Tuesday's incident caused damage to some buildings in Moscow and forced residents to evacuate homes, officials said, though the Kremlin largely shrugged off the dramatic display that its war was increasingly coming home.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attack sought to intimidate the public, and commended the work of the capital’s air defense.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that eight unmanned aerial vehicles were involved in the strikes. All drones were destroyed, it added, with three losing control after being jammed and the other five shot down by anti-aircraft systems.
The ministry blamed Ukraine for what it called a “terrorist attack.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview that his country "has nothing directly to do" with the drone attacks on Moscow but was "pleased to observe and predict an increase in the number of attacks."
Drones strike Moscow in first attack on capital's residential areas since the war began
The strikes damaged some buildings and forced residents to evacuate homes, local officials said Tuesday, as Kyiv was hit by the latest deadly Russian bombardment.
www.nbcnews.com
Other sources say three drones got through Russia's air defenses, but the extent of the damage is unknown. The area hit is home to the rich and powerful in Moscow. Putin has his residence there and many government agencies have offices there.
