Russia shot down two drones the Kremlin said were launched by Ukraine in an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.
“Today at night, the Kyiv regime attempted to strike the Kremlin residence of the President of the Russian Federation with unmanned aerial vehicles,” a statement said. “We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation.”
The move comes ahead of Russia’s popular Word War II victory celebrations on May 9, where the country marks Soviet victory over the Nazis.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the parade would go on as scheduled without changes to plans.
Ukraine denied allegations that the country was at fault for the drone attack, with presidential spokesman Mikhaylo Podolyak saying, “Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks on the Kremlin.” Podolyak added, “Ukraine does not attack the Kremlin because, firstly, that does not solve any military aims.”
Russia said it “reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit.”