Zelensky after Moscow drone attack: War coming back to Russia
31-07-2023, 07:31

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned war is coming back to Russia after a drone attack on the capital Moscow.

Mr Zelensky said attacks on Russian territory were an "inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process" of the war between the two countries.

Russia's defence ministry said three Ukrainian drones were downed on Sunday, with two crashing into offices.

Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city centre, was also briefly shut.

The drone attack in the early hours of Sunday is the latest that Moscow has blamed on Kyiv.

And in a video address on Sunday from the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mr Zelensky said that Ukraine was getting stronger.

"Today is the 522nd day of the so-called 'Special Military Operation', which the Russian leadership thought would last a couple of weeks," he said.

"Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia - to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process."

This characterisation is certainly a level up from Kyiv's normal approach of not admitting responsibility for attacks inside Russia.

It may be far from a confession, but President Zelensky clearly feels confident enough to pile on the pressure, and not just on the Kremlin.

Drone attacks like these are also an opportunity for him to address the Russian population, the majority of whom appear to believe Moscow's invasion is just and righteous.

If they connect explosions close to home with what's going on in Ukraine, as per Mr Zelensky's suggestion, it makes it that bit harder for Vladimir Putin to justify his invasion, which he is only looking to expand.

Officials said there were no injuries following the drone attack, and the city's mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the facades of two office buildings were slightly damaged.

Photos from the scene show that several windows have been damaged at the corner of the buildings, with debris scattered on the ground below.

One eyewitness, who only gave her first name as Liya, told Reuters news agency she could see fire and smoke.

"We heard an explosion and it was like a wave, everyone jumped," she said.

"Then there was a lot of smoke and you couldn't see anything. From above, you could see fire."

Flights were briefly suspended from Vnukovo Airport, southwest of the city centre, and incoming planes were redirected to other airports.

In a statement, the defence ministry said the "attempted terrorist attack" had been "thwarted".

Moscow, located about 500km (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, has rarely been targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

But Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a series of drone strikes on its territory in recent months, including several on the capital.

The most notable was in May, when Russia claimed Ukraine used two drones to attack the Kremlin - the heart of the city. Ukraine denied attacking the Kremlin or targeting President Vladimir Putin.

Russia's defence ministry says Ukraine also carried out an overnight drone attack on Crimea - territory which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Officials say 16 drones were destroyed and a further nine were suppressed, Tass news agency reports.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say a Russian missile attack on the city of Sumy, in the north east of the country, has left one person dead and five injured.

A building was destroyed in an explosion at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT), according to public broadcaster Suspilne.

Officials also say two people were killed in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday.

 

BBC

Comments: 2949
#889   Mickey
      
Feel free to visit my web-site - Watch Free Poker Videos
23 July 2025 05:39
#888   Emmett
      
Here is my web site; play Poker online
23 July 2025 05:08
#887   Zane
      
Also visit my web site - Ernest
23 July 2025 03:09
#886   Marietta
      
I am impressed with this website, very I am a big fan.

My page :: Kkpoker Muchbetter
22 July 2025 17:27
#885   Hugh
      
22 July 2025 13:58
#884   Retha
      
Here is my web page - PokerTube
22 July 2025 10:47
#883   Tyrone
      
Feel free to visit my web-site ... Rogelio
22 July 2025 10:43
#882   Larry
      
This is the right web site for anybody who hopes to find
out about this topic. You know so much its almost tough to argue with you (not
that I actually will need to?HaHa). You definitely
put a fresh spin on a subject that's been discussed for ages.
Great stuff, just great!

Also visit my web site ... Stakes Casino
21 July 2025 23:26
#881   Cole
      
21 July 2025 20:17
#880   Lane
      
21 July 2025 04:00
#879   Dante
      
I like reading through an article that will make people think.
Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!

Also visit my web-site: Best Online Poker
20 July 2025 18:05
#878   William
      
Also visit my homepage ... Jeannette
20 July 2025 02:51
#877   Dan
      
Here is my web blog; Poker Online Free
20 July 2025 01:57
#876   Greta
      
My homepage: SCV.KD@Zvanovec.net
20 July 2025 01:04
#875   Aurora
      
My web blog: highstakespoker
19 July 2025 20:39
#874   Kala
      
Feel free to surf to my web blog highstakes
sweeps
19 July 2025 15:11
#873   Sandy
      
19 July 2025 14:05
#872   Jaclyn
      
It's actually a great and helpful piece of info.
I'm happy that you simply shared this useful info with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.


My blog: top ten poker
sites
18 July 2025 16:41
#871   Belinda
      
18 July 2025 12:51
#870   Allie
      
Here is my site ... high stake
18 July 2025 08:03
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *