Russia accused the US on Thursday of a drone strike on Moscow’s Kremlin bastion to murder President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin blamed the US for a terrorist strike a day after accusing Ukraine.
Video footage from early Wednesday showed two flying objects approaching the Senate Palace inside the Kremlin gates and one bursting with a dazzling flare. Ukraine denied involvement.
Of course, Kyiv and Washington’s denials are ludicrous. “We know very well that decisions about such actions, about such terrorist attacks, are made not in Kyiv but in Washington,” said Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
He said, without evidence, that the US was “undoubtedly” behind the strike and that Washington routinely chose Ukraine’s targets and methods.
This is commonly ordered from overseas. We understand this… Washington must know we know.”
Russia has increasingly accused the US of directly participating in the Ukraine war to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Moscow. The US rejects that, stating it is arming Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion and recapture land Moscow unjustly captured in almost 14 months of conflict.
However, Peskov’s claim that the US plotted to kill Putin went further than Kremlin accusations against Washington.
Putin was not in the Kremlin, and security specialists have dismissed the assassination attempt.
However, Russia reserves the right to retaliate, and hardliners like former president Dmitry Medvedev have said it should “physically eliminate” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Peskov wouldn’t say if Zelenskiy were a genuine target.
He said Russia had several alternatives and would respond thoughtfully. He said an immediate inquiry was underway but could not provide a timeline.
Putin said personnel were working regularly on Thursday at the Kremlin.
The event occurred less than a week before Russia’s May 9 Victory Day festivities, a national holiday and a chance for Putin to mobilize Russians behind his “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Peskov said air defenses would be reinforced, which was already underway for the military parade on Red Square, the holiday’s centerpiece, just across the Kremlin wall from the suspected attack.
He stated the procession would proceed with a presidential speech.
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