**Putin Targeted In "Terrorist" Assassination Attempt By Drones: Kremlin**

Putin Targeted In "Terrorist" Assassination Attempt By Drones: Kremlin

The Kremlin says two drones were sent by Ukraine in an overnight attack on Moscow and on government buildings which it sees as **an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin**.

A Kremlin press statement called it a **"planned terrorist attack"** against Putin directly, and says Russia has a right to respond "where and when it deems necessary".

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_Getty Images_ (?itok=yI6u6eZu)

The president was not injured in the attempted attack and is said to be safe and carrying on his regular work schedule after the drones were "downed" - according to the Kremlin statement, as cited in _RIA_.

Further the statement emphasized there was **no material damage to the president's offices from falling debris** after Russian defenses disabled the inbound UAVs.

"The aircraft were downed using electronic warfare measures and caused no casualties or damage, it said in a statement," Russian state media RT reports. "Moscow considers the incident an act of terrorism," and details further:

> _The incident occurred late on Tuesday night, and both unmanned aircraft fell on the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow, according to the president’s office. His schedule was not affected._

The statement from the Russian presidency's office emphasized: **"We consider this a preplanned terrorist action and an attempt against the Russian president."** It happened "ahead of Victory Day and the parade on May 9, when foreign guests plan to be present." The statement detailed, "Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin. As a result of timely actions taken by the military and special services using radar warfare systems, the devices were disabled."

Initial videos from the attack are being widely circulated, strongly suggesting the accuracy of the Kremlin statements of a nighttime attack on central government buildings in Moscow; however, they do appear to show **a direct strike of at least one of the drones on a building**:

> NEW: Kremlin says “Ukrainian” drones attacked Putin’s residence in Moscow last night, but he is safe pic.twitter.com/nQFDNDhpvw (https://t.co/nQFDNDhpvw)

>

> — Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1653727053588451329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**Fire can be seen atop the roof of one of the iconic buildings** of the Moscow Kremlin complex...

> Another video purportedly showing the aftermath of the drone attack against the Kremlin pic.twitter.com/GgkwaFl4Em (https://t.co/GgkwaFl4Em)

>

> — Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/michaelh992/status/1653732755937566720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Russian presidential spokesman followed-up with this message after the initial Kremlin press release (https://www.rt.com/russia/575704-putin-kremlin-drone-attack/):

> _" **As a result of this terrorist act, the President of the Russian Federation was not injured**. His work schedule has not changed, it continues as usual,"_ the message said.

>

> Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explained that the head of state was not in the Kremlin during what he described as a Ukrainian UAV attack on Tuesday night. He noted that President Putin is currently working from his residence near Moscow.

All of this makes a downed Ukrainian drone incident outside Moscow from last week much more interesting in hindsight, which we covered here: Kremlin Rejects German Media's 'Putin Drone Assassination' Report (https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/kremlin-rejects-german-medias-putin-drone-assassination-report). It will also be interesting to see whether Russia points the finger at the United States and West for its longtime intelligence support to Kiev, as we reviewed in December based on this statement: We Are Not "Enabling" Or "Encouraging" Ukraine To Strike Within Russia: White House (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/third-russian-airbase-set-ablaze-drone-strike-ukraine-extends-war-across-border).

_developing..._

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Wed, 05/03/2023 - 08:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-targeted-terrorist-assassination-attempt-drones-kremlin