Drone attacks hit Moscow, stirring fury at the Kremlin

Two are injured in a rare attack on Moscow as more heavy Russian raids target Kyiv, killing at least one person.

A view shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

A multi-storey apartment block damaged during a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30, 2023 [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] Published On 30 May 2023 30 May 2023 Correction30 May 2023 An earlier version of this article stated that Moscow is more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Ukraine. This was incorrect. Moscow is a few hundred kilometres from the Ukraine border. Drones struck Moscow on Tuesday but were neutralised, Russia said, in what one politician called the worst attack on the capital since World War II, while Kyiv was also hit from the air for the third time in 24 hours.

Since Russia invaded its neighbour in February last year, the war has largely been fought inside Ukraine, though Moscow has reported some attacks on its territory and blamed them on Ukraine, including an alleged assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were injured, but not seriously, while some residents in two lightly damaged apartment blocks were briefly evacuated.

Russia’s defence ministry said eight drones sent by Kyiv were shot down or diverted, though Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved.

Residents in southwestern Moscow said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol at about 5am to 6am local time [02:00 to 03:00 GMT]. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline.

Politician Maxim Ivanov termed it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid “the new reality”.

“You will either defeat the enemy as a single fist with our Motherland, or the indelible shame of cowardice, collaboration and betrayal will engulf your family,” he said.

Two weeks ago, two drones exploded over the Kremlin in an attack Russia also blamed on Kyiv and said was aimed at Putin.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv was directly involved in targeting Moscow on Tuesday, though he said “we are pleased to watch” and forecast more to come.

Russia’s defence ministry cast the assault as a “terrorist drone attack” launched by the “Kyiv regime”.

Investigators gather evidence while working outside a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Investigators gather evidence while working outside a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30, 2023 [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] In Kyiv, Ukrainian defence forces said they shot down more than 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones on Tuesday.

One person died – reportedly a 30-year-old woman, and four were injured when debris from a destroyed Russian projectile hit a high-rise apartment building causing a fire, Ukrainian officials said. Two upper floors were destroyed with people possibly still under rubble.

“The attack was massive, came from different directions, in several waves,” said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration.

Russia has attacked Kyiv 17 times in May with drones or missiles, mostly at night, in an apparent attempt to undermine Ukrainians’ will to fight after more than 15 months of war.

Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Kyiv, said: “Where I am right now is an apartment block that was hit, the top two floors pretty much nearly destroyed.

“At the foot of this apartment block is a cleanup process. People are inspecting their cars that are damaged, trying to absorb what has happened. They are looking up at the top of the building, the windows are nearly blown up. A lot of [residents] are going to have to leave this building with their suitcases, their pets. Some of them are saying they don’t want to leave, they’re happy they have survived.

“This is the worst nightmare for people here in Kyiv. These attacks have been going on night after night now. This is the third consecutive attack now. People are not sleeping. But every night, when they do go to sleep, they hear those sirens, they hear the explosions and they just don’t know what will happen.”

In Moscow, journalist Yulia Shapovalova, said there was a sense of “calm” in the capital despite the attacks.

“Moscow is buzzing as usual now. People are going to work, public transport is functioning normally, it seems like nothing happened.

“People on the street are very calm, but I should tell you many people in Russia sincerely believe the information they regularly hear on TV, that the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have been inevitable and that President [Vladimir] Putin, as a great strategist, began it first on foreign soil.”

“even Barky knew the truth about Putin’s power when he told supposed Pres Medvedev “ Tell Vladimir that I’ll have more flexibility after the election.””

Link please.

SEOUL (Reuters) - President Barack Obama was caught on camera on Monday assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he will have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election.

“I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir,” Mr. Medvedev said, referring to Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, who just won an election to succeed Mr. Medvedev.

You are ignorant and uninformed, fireman.

Iran has been at war with the U.S. since 1979. They killed hundreds of U.S. soldiers in Iran!

“The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II.”

https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20grants%20Congress%20the,war%20during%20World%20War%20II.

So sorry, no we have not been at war with Iran since 1979. We are also thankfully not at war with Russia or China which are both nuclear powers. But we are very close thanks to your pals, Biden, Lindsey Graham and other Demopublicans.

This bunch doesn’t answer the phone.

This group acted like they did not consider it possible that Russia would dare to defy them. They got this underway with no coalition of those willing to put boots on the ground. This group has set a new record low for diplomacy.

Angela Merkel virtually ensured Russia will not consider another ceasefire agreement similar to the Minsk accords. The State Dept seems to have no clue how to find the off ramp.

“The USSR hasn’t existed for over 30 years. Do you hate Germans for what they did back then?”

Problem is, Russia is still attacking and attempting to take other sovereign nations. They still ally with rogue nations like Iran and NKorea and they still buzz our ships and carriers.

“Can’t wait until they treat you as the enemy you have declared yourself to be”

Can’t wait until you Russian collaborators are seen for the traitors you are and treated as such.

Baloney. We’ve been rated far more than they have. And they have had a small intervention in Georgia when it tried to break away a Russian area, then they intervened in Crimea when they decided not to let a Navy base they’ve had since 1783 be handed over to NATO. We are the ones who run around the world inviting everybody. And our fighter planes and bombers and reconnaissance planes routinely swarm around their borders. But nice try, thanks.

“they have had a small intervention in Georgia when it tried to break away a Russian area, then they intervened in Crimea when they decided not to let a Navy base they’ve had since 1783 be handed over to NATO. “

Correct. Both illegal actions as seen by the entire civilized world, especially the illegal annexation of Crimea. There are no “Russian area” in other countries. They are simply areas where the Russians/Soviets placed Russian people into, when they coerced those countries. The Russian can all go home if they wish, or they can abide the laws of the sovereign nations they choose to live in.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.