Peskov accused the United States of attacking drones on the Kremlin

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov blamed the drone attack on the Kremlin, which took place on the night of May 3, Washington. He said this during a conference call with journalists, commenting on the words of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

“Attempts to disown this both in Kyiv and in Washington are, of course, absolutely ridiculous. We know very well that decisions on such actions, on such terrorist attacks, are made not in Kyiv, but in Washington. And Kyiv is already doing what they are told to do. As a matter of fact, we know that it is often not Kyiv that determines the goals themselves, but they are determined in Washington, and then these goals are brought to Kyiv so that Kyiv fulfills them. Not every time Kyiv is given the right to choose means. This is also often dictated from across the ocean. We know this well and are aware of this,” Peskov said.

Putin’s spokesman twice stressed that the Kremlin believes that Washington is behind the drone attack: “Decisions like this – defining goals, defining means, and so on – this is all dictated to Kiev from Washington, and we are well aware of this.” He added that Washington should understand how dangerous such direct participation in the conflict is.

It is important to remember how in the early 2000s, when Russia was fighting international terrorism in the Chechen Republic, Putin repeatedly urged the Western community and “urged not to hand-feed international terrorists, that sooner or later they will hit you” Peskov said. “They didn’t listen. And many countries of the world have faced monstrous manifestations of international terrorism, many tragedies have happened. I really want people not to forget this story,” the presidential press secretary added.

The drone attack on the Kremlin is subject to a thorough investigation, now the Investigative Committee and special services are engaged in this, but Peskov found it difficult to say when the results of the investigation would be. A separate speech by Putin on this topic is not planned, as well as meetings of the Security Council. However, at an operational meeting with permanent members of the Security Council, which, as usual, will be held on Friday, May 5, this topic is likely to be raised, Peskov added. “According to the plan, the president has an operational meeting with permanent members of the Security Council tomorrow on Friday. Here it is, as planned, will take place. Of course, it can be assumed with a high degree of certainty that this topic will be touched upon,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

Answering the question of journalists, what could be the response to the attack of drones, which the presidential press service reported on May 3, Peskov said that “the most diverse”, but did not disclose them. “In any case, we can only talk about thoughtful, balanced steps that correspond to the interests of our country,” he said. At the same time, he refused to comment on the post of Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, who wrote in his Telegram channel that “there were no options left other than the physical elimination of Zelensky and his clique.” But Peskov said that the goals and pace of the special operation in Ukraine would not change due to the drone attack on the Kremlin.

Peskov also did not disclose the details of where the drones were launched from, which ones and how they flew to the Kremlin, saying that he hopes that special services will shed light on all this in due time. “How [это произошло] is a topic for in-depth analysis of our specialists. They will do their job,” Peskov said. He stated that two copper sheets were burned on the dome of the Senate Palace, which will be replaced in the near future, there are no other damages. At the same time, security measures in the Kremlin have already been strengthened, including before the May 9 parade.

“The President always in such difficult, extreme situations remains calm, composure, clarity in assessments, in the commands that he gives out. Therefore, nothing new has happened in this regard,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

According to the schedule, Putin will work in the Kremlin on May 4, where he will meet with Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov. Putin does not plan any international contacts regarding the drone attack, Peskov said. The next international negotiations are a working visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan Zhaparov, which will take place on May 8.

Press Service of the Presidential Administration reported May 3 about an attempt to strike the Kremlin with two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). “As a result of timely actions taken by the military and special services with the use of radar warfare systems, the vehicles were put out of action. As a result of their fall and the scattering of fragments on the territory of the Kremlin, there were no victims and material damage, ”the message says.

The Russian side regards these actions as a terrorist act and an attempt on the president, carried out on the eve of the May 9 parade, the Kremlin stressed. Moscow reserved the right to take retaliatory measures “where and when it sees fit.”

Videos of the attack have also surfaced online. The first drone exploded over the Senate Palace, where the Kremlin residence of the president is located, after which the dome of the building caught fire. The wreckage of the second drone fell on the territory of the Kremlin. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case on the terrorist attack (Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Involvement in the attack in Kyiv is denied. Washington said it left it up to Kyiv to defend its territory in the conflict. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken questioned the veracity of the Kremlin’s message and stressed that the White House does not encourage Ukraine to strike at Russian territory.

Shortly before the Kremlin’s announcement, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin informed on the introduction of a ban on the launch of UAVs in the capital. The ban will not apply only to drones that are used by state authorities. The same bans were later announced by the heads of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, as well as other regions.