(by Francesco Matera) The first skirmishes before the announced Ukrainian spring counter-offensive. Kiev will most likely want to spoil the national holiday that Russians celebrate on May 9 every year.
The use of killer drones on Russian territory is intensifying to cause an accident that could lead to an irreversible escalation of the conflict should Moscow decide to use its tactical nuclear bombs. An eventuality written in large letters in the new defense doctrine in case Moscow should feel threatened directly within its borders.
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The use of drones raises many questions. It is technically almost impossible to send killer drones from Ukraine to the Kremlin without adequate satellite assistance. Then there is the question of autonomy. The trail of Putin's internal opponents is increasingly gaining ground, i.e. a propaganda maneuver by Moscow that would use fake and planned attacks with APR to justify more high-impact incursions on Ukraine: as if to justify the forthcoming use of its own tactical nuclear bombs .
Drones rain on Russia
Yesterday's news came that two drones, probably of Iranian manufacture, were intercepted and shot down in time right above the Kremlin.
Last night the Ilsky refinery, in the Russian region of Krasnodar, in the south of the country, was attacked by a drone and its tank caught fire: a spokesman for the local emergency services made it known, as reported by the news agency Russian press Tass.
Another drone attack was launched overnight on a military airfield in Russia's Bryansk region, Telegram channel Baza reports.
The wreckage of another drone was found today about one hundred kilometers southeast of Moscow in the Kolomna area. Law enforcement sources told TASS. The drone was found in a forest. A small crater formed at the crash site. Another drone crashed in the same area last February in what the governor, Andrei Vorobyov, called "a failed attack".
The news of the attack on the Kremlin had been given by RIA Novosti and was immediately confirmed by the Kremlin, which announced retaliation. “The foiled attack last night with two drones was a Ukrainian terrorist attempt on the life of President Vladimir Putin, who was unharmed. Moscow will take retaliatory measures against Kiev”.
Furthermore, according to the Russian special services (FSB), a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea, planned by the Ukrainian military intelligence directorate, were thwarted: "Among the objectives were the assassinations of some leadership leaders of the peninsula, unilaterally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and infrastructure”.
Il Moscow mayor Serghey Sobyanin has ordered a ban on drones flying over the capital after the two drones were shot down. The spokesman of the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, he then specified that Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the attack. Medved on telegram: “After today's terrorist attack, there are no other options than the physical elimination of Zelensky. You don't even need to sign the deed of unconditional surrender. Even Hitler, as you know, did not sign it".
“Of course Ukraine has nothing to do with the Kremlin drone strikes”. He declared it Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a message to reporters.
“We do not attack Putin or Moscow. We are fighting on our territory defending our towns and villages. We don't have enough weapons to do that. Let's not attack Putin, let's leave him to the court". This was stated by the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Helsinki.
“We are aware of claims by Russian authorities about alleged drone strikes targeting the Kremlin and are trying to get more information on what actually happened. The alleged drone strikes must not be used as a pretext for further escalation of Russia's continued aggression outside its borders.". Peter Stano, spokesman for the European Commission's external action service, let ANSA know.
Fighters in Kiev and new funding for ammunition
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky it was said "certain" that the Western allies will deliver the fighters to Kiev after "the offensive actions" that will be "soon" on the field. At a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki, Zelensky said that Ukraine's allies handed over their weapons after successful actions of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield. “Why do I think we will have planes? Because soon we will have offensive actions. And after them, I am sure, we will be given planes,” the Ukrainian president said, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda.
Meanwhile, EU ambassadors approved the decision on the assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Ukrainian armed forces with 1 billion euros for the joint purchase of ammunition and missiles.
This is the so-called "second pillar" of the ammunition plan, which provides for joint purchases through the Defense Agency (EDA) - or a consortium of member countries - both for the needs of the member states and for supplies to Kiev. The EPF's billion euros applies only to ammunition that will be supplied to Ukraine.