Tensions rise as Moscow accuses Ukraine of “terrorist” drone attack. Buildings damaged, intent unclear. Escalating conflict adds to international concerns.
After the mayor of the city claimed that two buildings were damaged and media reports indicated that debris was discovered close to the buildings of the defense ministry, Russia’s defense ministry on Monday accused Ukraine of conducting a “terrorist” drone attack against Moscow.
Two drones “were suppressed and crashed,” according to a statement from the defense ministry on the Telegram messaging service.
Two non-residential buildings were hit at roughly 4 a.m. (0100 GMT), according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who also said that there was no “serious damage or casualties.”
It was unclear whether the drones accidentally impacted the buildings when they were shot down or if they intended to.
The drone’s location was not disclosed by the mayor or the defense minister.
According to emergency services cited by Russian state news outlets, drone debris was discovered close to a building in central Moscow’s Komsomolsky Avenue. The buildings of the defense ministry are located roughly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the site.
Both Komsomolsky Avenue and Likhachev Avenue in southern Moscow were stopped to traffic after a high-rise office building there sustained damage, according to Russian news sources.
Polina, a young woman who lives next to the high-rise building on Likhachev Avenue, claimed that she was asleep when she was awakened by a blast that caused everything to start shaking.
A brief video of a high-rise building with broken windows on its top levels was posted on the Telegram channel of the Russian defense ministry television station Zvezda.
Other Russian Telegram groups with connections to the security services of Russia posted videos of glass and concrete debris on what they claimed to be Komsomolsky Avenue.
The claimed attack comes after nearly a week of Russia continuing to bombard the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, where on Sunday, missiles killed one person, injured numerous others, and severely damaged a historic Orthodox cathedral.
Kiev didn’t respond right away with a statement. Although Ukraine has been claiming lately that destroying Russia’s military infrastructure aids Kyiv’s counteroffensive, it practically never officially acknowledges responsibility for attacks within Russia or on Ukrainian territory under Russian control.
In the aftermath of the alleged “terrorist” drone attack on Moscow, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated further.
The exact location of the drones and the extent of the damage remain undisclosed, but reports suggest debris was found near the defense ministry buildings, raising concerns about the security of key installations within the Russian capital.
The situation underscores the ongoing volatility and complexity of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, with tensions remaining high and the potential for further escalation still a significant concern.
The international community closely monitors developments, hoping for a de-escalation of hostilities to prevent further loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure in the region.
