Moscow says U.S. behind Kremlin drone attack

APD NEWS

text

Ukraine had acted on U.S. orders with the drone attack on the Kremlin that aimed to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"Attempts to disown this (attack on the Kremlin), both in Kyiv and in Washington, are, of course, absolutely ridiculous. We know very well that decisions about such actions, about such terrorist attacks, are made not in Kyiv but in Washington," Peskov told reporters.

An urgent investigation is under way and any response would be carefully considered and balanced, according to Peskov.

The White House was quick to reject the charge. Ukraine has also denied involvement in the incident.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told MSNBC television on Thursday the Russian claims were false, and that Washington does not encourage or enable Ukraine to strike outside its borders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had nothing to do with the reported overnight incident during a visit to Finland.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also noted on Thursday that "Washington, London, and NATO in general" are ultimately responsible for all of the Ukrainian government's actions.

"They destroyed the lawful government in Ukraine (in 2014), put crooks and bandits in charge, provided them with money and weapons, imbued them with a sense of absolute impunity and provided political cover and military support," Zakharova added.

The Kremlin has said the military and special services used radar warfare to put the unmanned aerial vehicles of Wednesday's attack out of action.

Despite the attack, no casualties or material damage were reported from the downing of the drones and the resulting scattering of fragments, the Kremlin said.

(CGTN)