Russia accuses Ukraine of drone attack on Moscow

What happened?

In the morning, Russian media reported two explosions in Novaya Riga, near Moscow. Explosions were also allegedly heard in Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk near Moscow. According to preliminary reports, several quadcopters were shot down in Nikolo-Uryupino and on the waterfront in Illinskoye.

According to preliminary reports, several quadcopters were shot down in Nikolo-Uryupino and on the waterfront in Ilinskoe.

In addition, Russian media reported an explosion in New Moscow.  According to a preliminary version, a drone flying from the Kaluga region towards Moscow could have crashed into a building. The UAV was flying at an extremely low altitude and crashed into the building near the technical floor.

Instead, emergency services claim that the drones hit two residential buildings in Moscow.

According to Moscow Mayor Sobyanin, "minor damage" occurred in several buildings. 

Meanwhile, the prefecture of the Southwestern Administrative District claims that residents of three blocks of a building on Profsoyuznaya Street in Moscow have been evacuated.

The Mash Telegram channel writes that a high-rise building on Leninsky Prospekt was also attacked by drones, and three ambulances were on their way. It is alleged that the UAV debris flew into the window of one of the apartments. About 300 people have been temporarily evacuated. Special services have cordoned off the area, and emergency services are working.

Afterward, the mayor of the Russian capital confirmed that residents of several blocks of two buildings had been evacuated. He added that the residents will be able to return to their apartments after the security services finish their work.

Russia’s reaction

"This morning, the Kyiv regime committed a terrorist act in the Moscow region against - let me stress it - civilian targets," defense minister Sergei Shoigu said. "It involved eight unmanned aerial vehicles - they were all destroyed. In Moscow, three of the drones were subdued by the means of electromagnetic defense, they lost control and deviated from the designated targets. Five more were downed in the Moscow region by a Pantsir air defense system."

The Russian leader’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also blamed Ukraine for the drone attack on Moscow. 

"It is clear that these are the actions of the Kyiv regime in response to our very effective strikes on one of the decision-making centers. This strike took place on Sunday," Putin's spokesman said. 

Peskov added that the drone attack on Moscow, as well as the shelling of other Russian regions, confirm the need to achieve the goals set in Russia's war against Ukraine. 

He added that Putin had been informed about the attack, but he did not intend to address the Russians about it. 

Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prygozhin, commented on reports that the drones were shot down over the upscale Moscow suburb of Rublevka, home to Russia's political, military and business elite, whom he has often harshly criticized for their lack of commitment to the war, Reuters reports. 

"Why the hell do you allow these drones to fly into Moscow? Who cares if they are flying to your houses on Rublevka! Let your houses burn," Prigozhin said.

"And what are ordinary people to do when drones with explosives crash into their windows? That's why I, as a citizen, am deeply outraged that these scum are sitting quietly, smearing their asses with expensive creams. And so I believe that people have every right to ask them these questions, these bastards.

Russia propagandist Vladimir Solovyov claimed that “the sooner people realize that there is a war going on and switch to the war track, the sooner we will win.” The sooner Russians recognise their country is "fighting NATO" the "sooner Russia will win". In a video shared by BBC journalist Francis Scarr on Twitter, Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov said that the war will affect everyone, adding: "We're fighting against NATO! This needs to be understood. 

"NATO has supplied everything for Russia's destruction. 

 "When the Ukrainians run out, the Poles will come. More than currently."

What Kyiv says about the attack? 

Commenting on the incident, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that "the drones want to return to their creators."

"You know, we are getting involved in the era of artificial intelligence. Perhaps not all drones are ready to attack Ukraine and want to return to their creators and ask questions accordingly: "Why are you sending us (to attack) the children of Ukraine, Kyiv, and so on?" Podolyak said.

"And the second aspect is important. All the people who believe that they can play a one-sided game, that they can destroy another sovereign state with absolute impunity... After 15 months, did they realize there would be no repeat of the 2014 situation? No signing of the dividing line... Each of them will be held fully accountable," he added on the Breakfast Show.

Commenting on the drone attack on Moscow, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat, said that the Putin regime in Russia will face more and more obstacles, Focus reports. He said this on Tuesday, May 30, during a national telethon.

According to Ihnat, the UAV attack on Moscow and the Moscow region is one of the internal problems that the aggressor country will face more and more.

"I read it, saw it, and enjoyed it. I can't say anything else about what happened in Russia. These are their internal problems and there will be more and more of them," Ihnat said.

The Armed Forces spokesman also noted that various organizations, including the Freedom of Russia Legion, will create problems for the Putin regime in Russia. He mentioned that this legion is already active in the Belgorod region and other regions and seeks to overthrow the "bloody Putin regime" so that Russia becomes a free state.

• On the morning of Sunday, May 28, unidentified UAVs attacked an oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

•  On the morning of May 30, Moscow reported a drone attack. Damage to the facade and windows in residential high-rise buildings was recorded