A rare drone attack jolted Moscow early Tuesday, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin, meanwhile, pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours.
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The Russian Defense Ministry said five drones were shot down in Moscow and the systems of three others were jammed, causing them to veer off course. President Vladimir Putin called it a "terrorist" act by Kyiv. "The Kyiv regime ... attempts to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and strikes at civilian buildings," he said during a public event. "It is, of course, a clear indication of terrorist activity."
Ukrainian military analysts, though unable to confirm Kyiv had launched the drones against Moscow, said the attack may have involved UJ-22 drones, which are produced in Ukraine and have a maximum range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Ukraine made no direct comment on the attack, which would be one of its deepest and most daring strikes into Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 15 months ago. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Endowment said the Kremlin's policy is to play down the attacks, reflecting Putin's belief voiced more than once that the Russian people were patient enough to "understand everything and endure everything." Even so, Zhdanov told AP that "the myth has been dispelled" of the Russian capital's invulnerability.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday the US was still gathering information about the drone strike but reiterated that "as a general matter" the US administration does not support Ukraine using American weaponry in Russian territory. "We do not support the use of US-made equipment being used for attacks inside of Russia," she said. "We've been very clear about that, and we'll continue to do that. And we have been clear not just publicly but privately clear with the Ukrainians."
