THE MOSCOW

KREMLIN ATTACK:
What you should know about the
Attempted Assassination on President
Vladimir Putin

Michael Benner

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
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the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations
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noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Copyright © Michael Benner, 2023.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER 1
UNDERSTANDING THE KREMLIN: THE HEART
OF RUSSIAN POLITICS

CHAPTER 2
THE ATTACK ON THE KREMLIN: WHAT WE
KNOW SO FAR

CHAPTER 3
THE INVESTIGATION: UNCOVERING THE
WHO, WHAT AND WHY

CHAPTER 4
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS: WHAT THE
ATTACK MEANS FOR RUSSIAN POLITICS AND
HOW OTHER COUNTRIES ARE REACTING

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 CHAPTER 1

UNDERSTANDING THE
KREMLIN: THE HEART OF
RUSSIAN POLITICS

The Kremlin as the heart of Russian politics is

one of the most iconic and recognizable
landmarks in Russia. Located in the heart of
Moscow, the Kremlin has been a symbol of
Russian power for centuries. It has served as
the seat of power for the Russian government
since the 14th century and is still the center of
political life in Russia today.

The Kremlin is not only a historic landmark,

but it is also the heart of Russian politics,
playing a crucial role in shaping the country's
domestic and foreign policies.

The Kremlin is a vast complex of buildings that

includes several cathedrals, palaces, and
government buildings. It is surrounded by

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imposing red walls and towers that stretch for
almost two miles. The Kremlin is a city within a
city, with its own parks, churches, and
museums.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and

attracts millions of tourists each year.

The Kremlin's importance to Russian politics

cannot be overstated. It serves as the residence
of the Russian president and houses the offices
of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, and
the Federation Council.

It is also home to the offices of the Russian

prime minister and the Russian government.
The Kremlin's role in shaping Russia's political
and economic landscape is undeniable.

One of the key roles of the Kremlin is to serve

as a symbol of Russian power and prestige. The
imposing red walls and towers of the Kremlin
project an image of strength and stability. The
Kremlin is also the site of many important state

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ceremonies, such as the inauguration of the
Russian president.
These ceremonies underscore the importance
of the Kremlin in Russian political life and
serve to reinforce its role as a symbol of
national pride.

Another critical function of the Kremlin is to

serve as a center of decision-making for the
Russian government. Many critical policy
decisions are made within the walls of the
Kremlin, and its residents hold enormous
power and influence. The president of Russia,
in particular, holds significant authority, and
his decisions can shape the course of Russian
politics for years to come.

The Kremlin's importance extends beyond the

borders of Russia, as it plays a vital role in the
country's foreign policy. As the center of
Russia's diplomatic efforts, the Kremlin hosts
foreign dignitaries and serves as a site for
international summits and negotiations. Its
importance as a symbol of Russian power also

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makes it a key player in global affairs. The
Kremlin's actions and decisions are closely
watched by other nations, and its influence can
be felt far beyond Russia's borders.

In recent years, the Kremlin has come under

increasing scrutiny for its alleged interference
in foreign elections, its involvement in conflicts
in Syria and Ukraine, and its crackdown on
political opposition at home. These
controversies have raised questions about the
Kremlin's role in shaping Russia's political
future and its influence on global politics.

Despite these controversies, the Kremlin

remains the heart of Russian politics and a vital
part of the country's identity. As Russia
continues to navigate a complex and evolving
political landscape, the role of the Kremlin will
remain critical in shaping the country's future.

The Kremlin Attack 2022 VS

The Kremlin Attack 2023

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An Unprecedented Breach of Russian
Security

In the early hours of October 2022, a group of

armed assailants launched a brazen attack on
the Kremlin, the historic fortress complex that
serves as the heart of Russia's political power.
The attack was the first of its kind in modern
Russian history, and it sent shockwaves
throughout the country and the world.

The incident raised concerns about the

effectiveness of Russian security measures, the
stability of the Russian political system, and
the motives of the attackers.

The attack began around 4:30 am local time,

when a group of heavily armed men breached
the outer perimeter of the Kremlin. They
entered the complex and began exchanging
gunfire with Russian security forces. The
attackers were able to penetrate the central
complex of the Kremlin and took several

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high-ranking officials hostage. The attack
lasted for several hours before Russian special
forces were able to regain control of the
complex.

The assailants were all killed or captured

during the operation. Several of the hostages
were injured during the attack, but none were
killed. The Russian government lauded the
efforts of the security forces and emphasized
that the attack had been repelled with minimal
casualties.

The Kremlin attack was a significant security

breach that exposed vulnerabilities in the
Russian security system. The Kremlin is one of
the most heavily guarded locations in Russia,
and the fact that a group of attackers were able
to breach its walls and take hostages was a
major cause for concern.

The attack also highlighted the difficulties of

protecting a sprawling complex with multiple

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entry points, underground tunnels, and a maze
of rooms and corridors.

The Kremlin attack had significant

implications for Russian politics and security.
The incident was a major embarrassment for
the Russian government and raised questions
about the effectiveness of its security measures.
The attack also sparked fears of further
violence and instability in the country. Many
observers saw the attack as a challenge to the
authority of Russian President Vladimir Putin,
who has consolidated power in the country
over the past two decades.

The motives of the attackers remain unclear,

and no group has claimed responsibility for the
attack. Some analysts have speculated that the
attack was carried out by a group opposed to
Putin's authoritarian rule or by separatist
groups seeking greater autonomy or
independence for their regions. Others have
suggested that the attack may have been linked

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to Russia's involvement in conflicts in Ukraine
or Syria.

The Kremlin attack was a wake-up call for the

Russian government, which vowed to take
steps to improve security at the complex and
prevent similar incidents from occurring in the
future.

The government also announced a crackdown

on potential threats to the Kremlin and
increased surveillance measures throughout
the country.
The attack highlighted the challenges facing
Russia's political system and underscored the
need for greater attention to security and
stability in the country.

The Moscow Kremlin, the heart of Russian

politics and power, was attacked in what has
been described as a brazen and unprecedented
act of violence. The attack has sent shockwaves
throughout Russia and the world, as questions
continue to swirl about who was behind the

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attack and what it means for the future of
Russian politics.

The Attack on the Kremlin: What We

Knew then

The attack on the Kremlin took place in the

early morning hours, when a group of
unknown assailants breached the heavily
guarded walls of the complex and began firing
weapons indiscriminately. The attack lasted for
approximately thirty minutes before Russian
security forces were able to neutralize the
attackers and secure the area. The final death
toll stands at 12, including 3 members of the
Russian security forces and 9 attackers.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack,

Russian officials were quick to condemn the
violence and promise swift justice for those
responsible. President Vladimir Putin appeared
on state television to address the nation,
vowing to hunt down the perpetrators and
bring them to justice. The Russian media also

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provided extensive coverage of the attack, with
many outlets highlighting the heroism of the
security forces who responded to the incident.

As the dust settles on the attack, the focus now

turns to the investigation into who was
responsible for the attack and what their
motives were. Russian authorities have
released few details about the investigation,
citing the sensitive nature of the case.
However, many experts have speculated that
the attack may have been carried out by a
foreign power or extremist group seeking to
destabilize Russia and its government.

At this time, no suspects have been officially

identified or apprehended in connection with
the attack. Russian authorities have launched a
massive manhunt to track down the
perpetrators, using surveillance footage and
witness testimony to piece together what
happened that fateful night.

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The attack on the Kremlin has significant
political implications for Russia and its
government. The Kremlin is not only the seat
of Russian power, but also a symbol of the
country's history and culture. The attack has
shaken the Russian people's faith in their
government's ability to protect them and raised
questions about the country's stability and
security.

The attack on the Kremlin has also sparked

international condemnation, with many
countries expressing their solidarity with
Russia and their support for the Russian
government's efforts to bring the perpetrators
to justice. However, some experts have also
noted that the attack could have wider
implications for global security, particularly if
it is found to have been carried out by a foreign
power or extremist group.

The attack on the Kremlin has highlighted the

need for increased security measures to protect
one of the world's most important political and

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cultural landmarks. Russian authorities have
already announced plans to bolster security
around the Kremlin and other sensitive
government buildings in the wake of the attack.
However, experts warn that more needs to be
done to prevent future attacks and ensure the
safety of the Russian people.

The attack on the Kremlin is a stark reminder

of the ongoing threat of terrorism and political
violence in our world today. As the
investigation continues and the world waits for
answers, it is clear that we must remain
vigilant in our efforts to prevent such attacks
and protect our communities from harm. Only
by working together can we ensure a safer and
more secure future for all.

The Kremlin Drone Attack 2023

Moscow says the suspected strike took place in

the early hours of Wednesday 3rd May, 2023.
Two “unmanned aerial vehicles” were detected

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and destroyed before they caused any damage
or harm, the Kremlin claimed.

The Russian president was not in the building

at the time, according to Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov.

Videos then appeared on social media seeming

to capture the event. CNN's examination of this
footage verifies Moscow’s assertion that two
drones were flown over the Kremlin.

A video that purported to show smoke rising

from the Kremlin leaked on a Telegram
channel around 2:37 a.m. local time
Wednesday. The first reports of the event
referencing the Kremlin emerged through
Russian official media TASS and RIA at 2:33
p.m. local time - about 12 hours later.

A still picture captured from video shows a

flying object bursting in an incredible blaze of
light near the dome of the Kremlin. A still

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picture captured from video shows a flying
object bursting in an incredible blaze of light
near the dome of the Kremlin.

Shortly after the initial media reports, another

video purporting to show the moment a drone
detonated over the Kremlin started spreading
extensively on social media. In the footage, the
purported drone appears to soar toward the
building’s domed top, followed by what seems
like a tiny explosion.

In this footage, two persons seem to be

climbing on the dome with flashlights and can
be seen diving down immediately before the
time of the explosion. The persons ascending
the dome are not there in the first of these
films, but emerge in the second, indicating they
were reacting to the fire started by the first
drone at the time the later drone appeared.

Who’s saying what?

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The Kremlin accused Ukraine of characterizing
the reported drone strike as an “attempt on the
President’s life.”

In a statement, the Kremlin stated, “We view

these actions as a planned terrorist attack and
an assassination attempt,” adding that “Russia
reserves the right to take countermeasures
wherever and whenever it deems appropriate.”

A screengrab obtained from a video that has

circulated on Russian social media claims to
show the time right before the explosion of a
drone and smoke rising from the direction of
the Kremlin.

The incident is reported to have taken place in

the early morning hours of Wednesday 3rd
May 2023 at an undetermined time.
Russia also alleged the US was complicit in the
strike. “Undoubtedly, Such decisions, the
definition of goals, the definition of means – all
this is dictated to Kyiv from Washington,”
Peksov added.

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“We don’t attack Putin or Moscow,” President
Volodymyr Zelensky declared during a press
conference in Helsinki on Wednesday 3rd May
2023.

“We fight on our territory, we are defending

our villages and cities. We don’t have enough
weapon[s] for this. That’s why we don’t utilize
it anyplace [else],” Zelensky said. “We didn’t
attack Putin. We leave that to the tribunal,” he
said.

John Kirby, the National Security Council’s

Coordinator for Strategic Communications,
termed Russia’s assertion that the US urged
Ukraine to carry out such an assault
“ridiculous.”

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken indicated

that the US does not know who was
responsible. “I would take anything coming out
of the Kremlin with a very large shaker of salt,”

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he told a Washington Post event on
Wednesday.

A flying item bursts near the dome of the

Kremlin Senate building during the purported
Ukrainian drone assault in Moscow, Russia, on
May 3, 2023.

Russia alleges Ukraine has carried out drone

attacks on military airfields in western and
southern Russia, but Kyiv has not verified nor
refuted such charges.

US authorities have also claimed they were still

reviewing the situation and had no information
regarding who could have been involved.
Whatever the reality, any acknowledgment of a
security breakdown in the heart of the Kremlin
is significant.

What happens next?

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Moscow has fired a round of missiles at Kyiv
after the incident, a move in keeping with its
script after other flashpoints in the conflict.

And words scrawled on Russian drones fired at

Odesa overnight read “ for Moscow '' and “ for
the Kremlin,” according to the Ukrainian
military, an apparent reference to the alleged
attack.

US and Ukrainian officials have in the past

warned that Russia has planned so-called “false
flag” attacks along Russia’s border with
Ukraine as a pretext for military escalation,
including Russian claims ahead of last year’s
full-scale invasion that Ukraine was sending
“saboteurs” over the Russian border.

Russia has also been humiliated in recent

months by iconic episodes such as the sinking
of the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, the
flagship of its Black Sea fleet, under disputed
circumstances.

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 CHAPTER 2

THE ATTACK ON THE

KREMLIN: WHAT WE KNOW
SO FAR

Russian Officials and the Media

Reactions

The assault on the Kremlin came from a rather

skilled operator, the first evidence indicates.

Samuel Bendett, a drone expert at the US

Center for Naval Analyses, said that based on
the footage of the second drone assault “it
appears like it has narrow wings”.

That would point to an attack from an

established operator, although not necessarily
a state actor, using a drone such as a £7,500
Chinese-made Mugin-5.

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Fixed-wing drones have larger ranges and
flying lengths than simple and inexpensive
quadcopters, and a craft like a Mugin-5 may
potentially fly for seven hours at roughly 75
mph, making long-range operation viable.

Analysts also thought the drone may be a

Ukrainian-made UJ-22, which has a
comparable speed and range, according to the
manufacturer’s website, but the limited video
clip and difficulties expanding to a clear picture
meant any definite identification was unlikely.

Several incursions on Russian territory

employing drones have been ascribed to
Ukrainian actors or Russian partisans,
including an attack at the end of April on the
Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea,
which Russian officials alleged was launched
by a swarm of Mugin-5s.

Drones may be pre-programmed to hit a

particular target from a distance, but it was
nonetheless astonishing that one could

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approach so near to the Kremlin before it was
presumably shot down.

The speaker of Russia’s parliament,

Vyacheslav Volodin, has suggested Russia
should employ “weapons capable of halting and
destroying” what he described as “the Kyiv
terrorist regime” in reaction to a suspected
drone strike on the Kremlin on Wednesday,
which Russian officials have blamed on
Ukraine.

Reuters reported that in a message uploaded

on Telegram, Volodin urged that Russia should
not talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy following the claimed incident.

In October 2022 Ukraine approved a bill

forbidding peace negotiations with Russia
while Vladimir Putin remain president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not

hurt, the Kremlin declared in a statement, in
what it described as an assassination attempt

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(in reality, Putin had not been in the Kremlin at
the time of the purported event) but did not
present any proof that Ukraine had carried out
the assault.

Ukraine denied any participation in the event,

with authorities claiming it more likely
signified that Russia was plotting a large-scale
terrorist strike against Ukraine in the coming
days.

Russia has regularly been accused of

organizing “false flag” strikes that it may blame
on Ukraine, and use to justify or expand its
military actions against the nation as the
conflict grinds on into its 15th month.

‘Staged’ attack?
False-flag allegations

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Defense and political experts and officials are
also viewing the event with suspicion, saying
it’s extremely conceivable that Russia carried
out the “attack” itself for a variety of reasons,
including a potential need to prepare Russian
society for a greater war posture.

“Russia certainly planned this strike to bring

the conflict home to a Russian domestic
audience and build conditions for a larger
social mobilization,” experts at the Institute for
the Study of Conflict think tank stated in a
report.

Several indicators suggest that the strike was

internally conducted and purposefully staged,
the ISW noted, not least of all because Russia
has recently taken steps to increase Russian
domestic air defense capabilities, including
within Moscow itself.

Several specialists have accused Russia of

organizing a false-flag incident, an operation

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carried out intending to accuse an opponent of
it.

The hit comes at a possible turning moment in

the conflict, as Ukraine prepared to undertake
a long-anticipated counteroffensive.

When asked why Russia would accuse Ukraine

of wanting to murder Putin, Zelenskly said:
“It’s pretty easy. Russia has no triumphs. He
[Putin] can no longer excite his people, and he
can’t merely send his men to their death
anymore… now he has to somehow persuade
his followers to continue forward.”

Mulroy said: “Russia may be creating

something to use as a pretext to attack
President Zelenskiy - something they have
attempted to do in the past.”

Western observers have argued Moscow’s

reaction in the aftermath of the attack was well
organized and questioned why no reports of

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explosions appeared before the Kremlin’s
official declaration, 12 hours after the explosion
was alleged to have taken place.

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 CHAPTER 3

THE INVESTIGATION:
UNCOVERING THE WHO,
WHAT, AND WHY

Tracking Down the Perpetrators

Kremlin alleges Ukraine dispatched two drones

to strike Vladimir Putin

A drone detonated over the Kremlin on May 3,

2023. Russia accused Ukraine of trying to
murder President Vladimir Putin, but it could
not be independently confirmed.

RIGA, Latvia — Russia on Wednesday accused

Ukraine of organizing a drone strike meant to
murder President Vladimir Putin in the
Kremlin, an inflammatory charge that might
give a pretext for Russia to expand its
confrontation in Ukraine.

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Russia claims it stopped the attempt and that
Putin was not in the building at the time.

The accusation of an assassination attempt,

which could not be independently
substantiated, was made in a statement shared
by the Kremlin press department with Russian
official news media on Wednesday afternoon.

In the midnight hours early Wednesday, “the

Kyiv government attempted a drone attack on
the Kremlin home of the President of the
Russian Federation,” the statement stated.
“Two drones were directed towards the
Kremlin.”

“We regard these actions as a planned terrorist

act and an attempt on the life of the president
of the Russian Federation, carried out on the
eve of Victory Day, the May 9 parade,” the
Kremlin said, referring to the annual
commemoration of the Soviet Union’s role in
defeating Nazi Germany in World War II.

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“Russia maintains the right to react to an
attempted attack on the Kremlin where and
when it deems fit,” the statement claimed.

Around 4:30 p.m. local time Wednesday, air

raid sirens began sounding in Kyiv, the
Ukrainian capital, but the alert ended a few
minutes later without incident.

Ukraine swiftly denied any connection.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s
press secretary stated Kyiv “does not know of
the so-called midnight strikes on the Kremlin.”

“As President Zelensky has frequently

declared, Ukraine directs all available troops
and means to free its regions, and not to invade
others,”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has

denied that his country was involved in what
Russia alleges was an assassination attempt on
Russian President Vladimir Putin, following an
apparent drone strike on the Kremlin.

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"We don't target Putin or Moscow," Zelensky
stated during a press conference in Helsinki.

The Ukrainian president remarked that

Ukraine didn’t have enough armaments to
spare in instances like this.

"We fight on our turf, we are protecting our

villages and towns. We don't have enough
weapon[s] for this. That's why we don't utilize
it anyplace [else]," Zelensky stated. “For us, it
is the deficit, we can't spend [waste] it.”

“We didn't attack Putin. We leave it to the

tribunal,” he stated.

The press secretary, Serhiy Nykyforov, told

BBC’s Ukrainian service.

“What occurred in Moscow is certainly an

escalation of the situation ahead of May 9, a
predicted tactic by our opponents.”

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The Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated
during a Washington Post Live event that the
United States cannot corroborate the
allegations of an assault, adding that any such
statements from Russia should be considered
with “a very heavy shaker of salt.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky,

said Russia’s charges were “predictable” and
likely signified that Moscow is “preparing a
large-scale terrorist attack.”

“That’s why it first detains a big, purportedly

subversive, group in Crimea, then it showcases
‘drones above the Kremlin.’ First of all, Ukraine
fights an entirely defensive war and does not
assault targets on the territory of the Russian
Federation,” Podolyak tweeted.

“What for? This does not answer any military

concerns. But it gives grounds to justify its
attacks on civilians.”

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Earlier Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security
Service, the FSB, said it has dismantled a
Ukrainian military intelligence network that
was preparing “assassination attempts on the
leaders in Crimea,” the peninsula Russia
invaded and illegally annexed from Ukraine in
2014. The FSB said it apprehended seven guys
– Ukrainian, Russian, and Bulgarian
nationalities — and recovered bomb devices.

“Secondly, we are observing with interest the

rising number of catastrophes and events that
are taking place in various areas of Russia,”
Podolyak stated. “The advent of unidentifiable
unmanned aerial vehicles near energy plants or
on Kremlin’s property can only suggest the
guerilla activity of local opposition forces.”

“In a word, something is occurring … but

absolutely without Ukraine’s drones above the
Kremlin,” Podolyak stated.

In an interview with The Washington Post on

Wednesday, Ukrainian Defense Minister

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Oleksii Reznikov did not answer directly to
Kremlin charges that Ukraine had orchestrated
an assassination attempt against Putin.

“Every day and every night, Russia is officially

terrorizing the Ukrainian civil population,” he
said, adding that Ukraine’s air defenses
destroyed 17 of 18 Iranian-made drones fired at
Ukraine overnight on Tuesday.

“If certain officials from the Kremlin are

attempting to charge anyone, they may accuse
themselves.”

Some high-ranking Russian officials have

called on the country’s military to retaliate
promptly and harshly. Vyacheslav Volodin, the
speaker of the lower house of the Russian
parliament, released an angry comment on his
Telegram channel, declaring that “a terrorist
act on the President is an assault on Russia.”

“Politicians in Western nations who are

pouring weaponry to the Zelensky dictatorship

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must recognize that they have become not just
patrons but also direct collaborators of
terrorist activities,” he stated. “There can be no
dialogue with the Zelensky regime.”

“We will demand the use of weapons capable of

halting and destroying the Kyiv terrorist
regime,” Volodin continued, without specifying
the sort of weapons.

Russian authorities have not released official

footage or other proof to substantiate the
accusation.

Unverified footage circulated on Russian and

Ukrainian Telegram channels at about 2 a.m.
Moscow Time showed a flash of light and a
smoke plume rising above the Kremlin’s walls,
apparently depicting the aftermath of air
defense systems intercepting the drones.

The Senate Palace, situated within the Kremlin,

a fortified complex in the center of Moscow, is
the Russian president’s formal state home,

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although Putin usually uses it for receptions
and public activities. He chooses to work every
day from different presidential houses around
western Russia.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov

announced Wednesday 3rd May 2023 that
Putin was working from his property in
Novo-Ogaryovo, an estate only a few miles west
of Moscow.

Russia has begun implementing extra safety

measures in preparation for the annual May 9
World War II victory commemorations, when
republics of the former Soviet Union
commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Officials have cited security concerns due to the
conflict for restricting public gatherings.

A few minutes before the Kremlin made a

statement on the claimed drone attack,
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared that
from May 3, the city is prohibiting all drone

38
flights, except for unmanned aerial vehicles
employed by government agencies.

Events to honor deceased troops have been

canceled in numerous locations of the nation,
particularly in western Russia around the
border with Ukraine.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod

area, which reports shelling, suspicious fires,
and drone assaults on a near-daily basis, stated
in early April that he chose to postpone the
annual triumph parade.

“There will be no parade in order not to

provoke the adversary with a massive
concentration of equipment and military
troops in the middle of Belgorod,” Gladkov
stated during a recent live broadcast on the
social network VKontakte.

Who else may be responsible?

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If Ukraine wasn’t the culprit, one option is that
the attack was the work of Russian partisans —
as stated by a former Russian politician
affiliated with armed organizations in Russia.

Ilya Ponomarev told CNN’s Matthew Chance

that “it’s one of (the) Russian political groups,”
adding that “I cannot say more, since they have
not yet openly claimed responsibility.”
Ponomarev, who lives in exile in Ukraine and
Poland, was the sole Russian MP to vote
against the annexation of Crimea by Russia in
2014 and has since been listed on a list of
terrorist suspects, according to the Russian
authorities.

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 CHAPTER 4

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS:
WHAT THE ATTACK MEANS
FOR RUSSIAN POLITICS AND
HOW OTHER COUNTRIES
ARE REACTING

The former Russian president Dmitry

Medvedev has declared an alleged nocturnal
drone strike on the Kremlin left Moscow with
no alternative but to “eliminate” the Ukrainian
president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and his
“clique” in Kyiv.

The deputy head of the Russian security

council is a close supporter of his predecessor
and successor and has been a severe critic of
Kyiv.

Zelenskiy denied Kyiv was behind the incident,

which the Kremlin stated was an attempt on

41
Vladimir Putin’s life but did not result in any
injuries.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has

claimed the US can not corroborate Russian
accusations that Ukraine targeted Vladimir
Putin with a drone attack in the early hours of
Wednesday morning.

Speaking to reporters, he claimed that “we just

don’t know” when questioned about the truth
of stories.

He said: “[We] take everything coming from

the Kremlin with a hefty shaker of salt.”

Blinken added that the conflict is already a

strategic setback for Russia, and the US is
certain Ukraine would recapture more of its
territories in any counteroffensive.

While Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head

of the office of the president of Ukraine,
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has responded strongly

42
to Russia’s claim that “the Kremlin has
assessed these actions as a planned terrorist act
and an assassination attempt on the president”
about the reported drone strike on the
Kremlin.

In a tweet, Podolyak warned that the event was

being exploited as a pretext for “a large-scale
terrorist attack”. He wrote:

"As for the drones above the Kremlin. It’s all

predictable … Russia is plotting a large-scale
terrorist strike. That’s why it initially detains a
huge purportedly subversive group in Crimea.
And then it depicts “drones above the
Kremlin”.

First of all, Ukraine fights a completely

defensive war and does not assault targets on
the territory of the Russian Federation.

What for? This does not answer any military

concerns. But it gives the Russian Federation
grounds to justify its attacks on civilians …

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Secondly, we are observing with interest the
rising number of catastrophes and events that
are taking place in various sections of the
Russian Federation. The presence of
unidentifiable unmanned aerial vehicles near
energy plants or on the Kremlin’s property can
only suggest the guerrilla activity of local
opposition elements.

As you know, drones may be acquired at any

military shop …

The loss of authority and control over the

nation by Putin’s clan is apparent. But on the
other hand, Russia has repeatedly talked about
its total control over the air.

In a word, something is occurring in the

Russian Federation, but absolutely without
Ukraine’s drones above the Kremlin.

For some context, when Podolyak refers to

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“The emergence of unidentified unmanned
aerial vehicles at energy facilities or on
Kremlin’s territory can only indicate the
guerilla activities of local resistance forces”, in
recent days explosives have derailed freight
trains in Russia’s Bryansk oblast, an electricity
pylon was toppled in Leningrad oblast, and an
oil depot was set on fire in Krasnodar, near
Crimea.
A facility in Sevastopol has also been hit in
recent days.

Podolyak adds “Ukraine conducts a completely

defensive war and does not assault targets on
the territory of the Russian Federation”.
However, governors of the Russian regions that
border Ukraine have frequently reported
shelling that crosses the border into Belgorod
and Kursk regions.

The chief of Russia’s Wagner group mercenary

army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has claimed he
thinks Ukraine’s counteroffensive has started,
after noticing increased activity along the lines.

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In a message issued by his press office on
Telegram, Prigozhin stated that the “active
phase” of the counteroffensive will begin in the
coming days, Reuters writes.

“I don’t care who fired these drones, where

they came from, and if they were capable of
murdering Putin. I don’t care since I cannot
know,” Sam Greene, director for Democratic
Resilience at the Center for European Policy
Analysis, wrote on Twitter.

“What I do worry about is what happens next,

and that includes how this plays domestically
in Russia, and if it inspires major fresh
escalation from the Russian side,” Greene, also
a professor of Russian politics at King’s College
London, added.

By calling the incident a “terrorist” act and an

attempt on Putin’s life, the Kremlin was “very
clearly stoking the fires of [a] public demand
for revenge” he said, with pro-Kremlin figures

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like former Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev calling for “the physical elimination”
of the Ukrainian government.

So far, Greene said, “the public seems to be

responding the way the Kremlin likely wants it
to. A brief dive into Kremlin-friendly Telegram
discussions reveals that popular comments are,
if anything, even more, harsh than those of the
politicians.”

Nonetheless, the Kremlin faced risks in this

approach, he said, noting that if the
government’s response is deemed to be “weak
or non-existent ... people will notice.”

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