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
#2269   Lawerence
      
Feel free to visit my web site - high Stakes poker
23 November 2025 11:06
#2268   Angelika
      
My website - highstake sweeps
23 November 2025 10:42
#2266   Gene
      
Feel free to surf to my blog :: poker High Stakes
23 November 2025 08:59
#2265   Anneliese
      
Look at my web site :: high Stakes sweeps
23 November 2025 08:19
#2264   Malinda
      
23 November 2025 07:56
#2263   Emely
      
Also visit my blog post :: poker
High Stakes
23 November 2025 06:17
#2262   Ronnie
      
Here is my blog ... Poker
High Stakes
23 November 2025 05:18
#2261   Marie
      
Also visit my blog ... all spadegaming games in one place
23 November 2025 05:17
#2260   Jenifer
      
Here is my homepage; high stack poker
23 November 2025 04:59
#2259   Ernestine
      
Have a look at my web page; GameBeat
slots & RTP guide
23 November 2025 04:13
#2258   Nicholas
      
Feel free to surf to my site http //dl.highstakesweeps.com
login
23 November 2025 02:51
#2257   Gertrude
      
23 November 2025 00:46
#2256   Fanny
      
Stop by my homepage; All Hacksaw Gaming Games In One
Place


My web blog ... High
Stake
22 November 2025 23:38
#2255   Minna
      
22 November 2025 22:46
#2254   Laurinda
      
Here is my blog; high Stakes sweeps

Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?



my page: Signup Bonus Poker
22 November 2025 21:32
#2253   Shona
      
Also visit my web blog :: High Stakes Poker Site
22 November 2025 17:38
#2252   Inge
      
22 November 2025 16:56
#2251   Winfred
      
22 November 2025 16:46
#2250   Stefan
      
Here is my web-site; Play poker online

My web blog; Roma
22 November 2025 10:37
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: *


Back1 ... 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 ... 148Next