2023-05-04 00:56:15
The effects of the Russian bombing on the city of Kherson, May 3, 2023
Ukraine announced that 21 civilians were killed in Russian bombing of the southern city of Kherson and the surrounding area on Wednesday.
The Russian bombing also injured 48 others, and pictures published on the Internet showed bodies and wounded people lying on the floor of a corridor, with debris scattered around them as a result of the Russian bombing.
The authorities confirmed that two attacks targeted a supermarket and a train station in the city of Kherson, which was recovered by Ukrainian forces last November following falling into the hands of Russian forces in the early days of the war.
Since then, Kherson has been under bombardment, with the Russian army on the other side of the Dnieper River, which has become a front line.
The bombing comes following Russia said it shot down two drones targeting the Kremlin in Moscow in the early hours of Wednesday, and accused Ukraine of trying to kill President Vladimir Putin.
Unverified footage on social media showed an object flying over the Kremlin before a small explosion occurred.
A video showing the moments of an alleged Ukrainian attack on the Kremlin
Ukraine said it had nothing to do with the drone strike.
A spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was focused on liberating its territory following Russia invaded last year. Another official told the BBC that the incident he reported indicated Russia might be “preparing a large-scale terrorist provocation” in Ukraine.
The two countries often exchange accusations and denials regarding events since the Russian invasion.
Russia said the two drones were disabled by the use of electronic radars. Putin’s spokesman said the president was not in the Kremlin at the time.
The Kremlin said in a statement: “The Kiev regime attempted to carry out an air strike on the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Kremlin with drones.”
He added that this was “a planned terrorist act and an attempt to assassinate the president, and that Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures wherever necessary and at the appropriate time.”
Putin has very high personal security and Steve Rosenberg, the BBC’s Russia editor, says it is amazing to imagine drones approaching anywhere near the Kremlin.
The Kremlin said the president was unharmed and his schedule would continue as normal.
At the time, according to the statement, Putin was working in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow.
image copyright EPA
Russia says the president was not in the Kremlin at the time of the attack.
Footage shared on Russian social media showed smoke over the center of the capital, Moscow, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The Kremlin said that shrapnel from the drones fell on the Kremlin site, but did not injure anyone and did not damage buildings.
The Kremlin also noted that the incident occurred shortly before the May 9 Victory Day parade in Russia, which was expected to be attended by foreign dignitaries.
Russian news agencies quoted the Kremlin as saying the parade would go ahead as planned. “It is clear that what happened in Moscow aims to escalate the situation before May 9,” said Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov.
Adviser to Ukrainian President Mykhailo Podolyak said the incident might help Russia justify attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, and might also indicate “guerrilla activities of local resistance forces” inside Russia. He added: “Something is happening in the Russian Federation, but certainly without the parades Ukrainian over the Kremlin.” Mick Mulroy, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defense and a former CIA officer, told the BBC that if reports of the incident are accurate, it is unlikely that it was an assassination attempt, as Ukraine closely tracks President Putin’s movements. And she knows he wasn’t in Moscow at the time. “Perhaps this was to show the Russian people that they might be attacked anywhere, and that the war they started in Ukraine might eventually backfire on Russia, even on the capital,” he said. The reports are accurate. Perhaps, says Mulroy, “it was fabricated by Russia to use as an excuse to target President Zelensky. It’s something they’ve tried to do in the past.”
On Wednesday, Moscow’s mayor announced a ban on unauthorized drone flights over the city.
Sergey Sobyanin said drone flights would require special government permission.
Several Russian cities have already announced that they will scale back this year’s Victory Day celebrations.
The Russian authorities spoke of security reasons and the attacks of pro-Ukrainian forces led to these changes.
Explosions and fires have already occurred in Russia in recent weeks.
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