MOSCOW Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Moscow on Tuesday though all of them were destroyed by air defence systems, Russia's defence ministry said.
The attack came just weeks after the Kremlin was hit in a drone strike that Russia blamed on Ukraine, and simultaneously with the latest wave of Russian airstrikes on Kyiv.
Here is what we know so far:
* Russia's defence ministry blamed Ukraine for what itcalled a "terrorist" attack. It said it had shot down all thedrones. * The defence ministry said that eight drones had attackedthe Russian capital. Baza, a Telegram channel with links to thesecurity services, said that more than 25 drones were involved. * Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that RussianPresident Vladimir Putin was working in the Kremlin, and hadbeen briefed on the attack, adding that it had clearly beencarried out by "the Kyiv regime". * In a television appearance, President Vladimir Putinpraised Moscow's air defences, and said that Ukraine was tryingto provoke Russia by striking civilian targets. * Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said thatKyiv was watching the strike "with enjoyment" and predicted moresuch attacks, even as he denied Ukraine's involvement. * News site RBC cited a source as saying that "more than 10"drones had been shot down by anti-aircraft systems. * Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that two people hadsought medical assistance after the strike. No deaths werereported. * Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes majorcrimes, said several drones had fallen on buildings in Moscow,inflicting minor damage. It said it was investigating thestrike. * RBC reported that three buildings had been hit by thedrones: two near southern Moscow's Leninsky Prospekt, and athird in the town of Moskovskiy, close to Vnukovo Airport. * A senior Russian lawmaker said three of the drones hadbeen downed over the capital's exclusive Rublyovka suburb, whichis home to Russia's political and business elite and wherePresident Putin has an official residence. * A resident of one of the buildings struck in Moscow toldReuters the attack happened at around 0300 GMT, and that she wasevacuated from the building by a security team. * The attacks received extensive coverage in Russian statemedia, with flagship TV news presenter Vladimir Solovyov callingfor "much more brutal strikes" on Ukrainian cities in responseto the attacks.(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gareth Jones)
