UKRAINIAN kamikaze drones have unleashed chaos in the heart of Moscow’s business district in a three-pronged attack this morning.
Fireballs erupted in major buildings while skyscrapers were shattered by the strikes in the early hours of Sunday, just miles from the Kremlin.
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Three drones attacked Moscow’s bustling business district in the early hoursCredit: East2West
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Chilling screams were heard as fireballs erupted in the heart of the capitalCredit: East2West
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A number of prominent buildings and residential skyscrapers were damagedCredit: East2West
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Chilling screams were heard as explosions ripped through several floors of two office blocks, appearing to cause catastrophic damage.
Ukraine, who Russia has blamed for the attack, seem to be giving Vladimir Putin a taste of his own terror as tensions continue to rise.
The first of two drones sent to penetrate the capital’s much-vaunted air defences struck at 3.20am under the cloak of darkness.
It slammed into the 50-storey IQ Quarter Tower, one of the most prominent buildings in the business district called Moscow City.
Swish residential apartments and swanky penthouses also reside in the high-rise hub that was rocked by strikes on Sunday morning.
Footage then captured the aftermath of the second drone attack, which struck the Oko-2 skyscraper at 4.10am.
In one clip, two panic-struck women can be heard gasping as they watch an incoming drone grow closer, saying: “It flies so quick!”
Another video shot from the Presnenskaya Embankment shows one of the drones crash into a building, as a woman shouts: “Mummy!”
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the facades of two buildings were “slightly damaged”, despite the scenes of destruction.
The Russian defence ministry claimed that two drones had lost control when they were jammed by electronic warfare technology.
It alleged that the other was shot down, while describing the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack”.
A security guard was wounded in the strikes while unconfirmed reports said a 21-year-old woman was also injured.
Multiple ambulances were at the scene in the heart of Moscow, close to the White House headquarters of the Russian government.
Ukraine has been taking bolder steps in recent weeks to bolster its counter-offensive, which continues to gather pace.
One of the buildings struck by the drones houses the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The Ministry of Digital Development, Telecommunications and Mass Media’s office, part of Putin’s propaganda edifice, is also based here.
Government documentation from the ministries was strewn across the debris-littered street below after the attack.
A source said: “The glazing was shattered as a result of the blast at the level of fifth and sixth floors of the 50-story building on Presnenskaya embankment.”
Putin is sure to have been aggravated by the strikes that came as he prepared to mark Russian Navy Day in St Petersburg and Kronstadt.
The drone ambush even forced flights from major Moscow international airport Vnukovo, which is regularly used by the warlord and his goons, to be temporarily halted.
NUCLEAR WARNING
A source said: “Vnukovo airport is closed for arrivals and departures.
“Flights are being redirected to other airports. One flight is in the waiting area.”
It was later reopened as air defences got to work in the Odintsovo district.
The Kremlin bluntly threatened the use of nuclear weapons in wake of the strike, saying: “There is simply no other way out.”
Dmitry Medvedev – former Russian president who is now Vladimir Putin’s deputy on the powerful Russian security council – warned: “Our Armed Forces, repelling the counteroffensive of the collective enemy, protect the citizens of Russia and our land.
“This is obvious to all decent people. But beyond that, they prevent world conflict.
“After all, if we imagine that the offensive of the [Ukrainians] with the support of NATO was successful, and they seized part of our land, then we would have to, by virtue of the rules of the decree of the President of Russia dated 06/02/2020, go for the use of nuclear weapons.
“There is simply no other way out. Therefore, our enemies must pray to our warriors. They do not allow the global nuclear fire to flare up.”
As celebrations for Navy Day approached, he also bragged about Russia’s new high-speed underwater kamikaze drone, which could unleash nuclear Armageddon.
Although it is still in development, Putin’s puppets claim it could easily drown the UK under a giant radioactive tsunami.
Medvedev added: “Poseidon unmanned aerial vehicle joins the congratulations [for Navy Day] and recommends that the enemies of our country pray for the health of all Russian sailors.”
Reports of an intense drone attack on annexed Crimea also surfaced, although Ukraine have not yet commented on any strikes.
NAVY DAY
The disputed region’s defence ministry claimed that 25 drones had been repelled.
A statement said: “Sixteen Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by air defence fire.
“Another nine Ukrainian drones were suppressed by electronic warfare and crashed in the waters of the Black Sea and Cape Tarkhankut without reaching their target.
“There were no casualties or damage as a result of the foiled terrorist attack.
Moscow routinely downplays attacks by Ukraine in an attempt not to alarm people and keep up their facade of success.
Putin instead encouraged the Russian people to concentrate on the nation’s military might as he celebrated the annual Navy Day.
A parade of fearsome warships and nuclear submarines graced the Gulf of Finland and on the River Neva near St Petersburg.
Alongside the 45 vessels, around 3,000 navy personnel also took part in Sunday’s spectacle on dry land.
Putin was joined by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the head of the Navy.
The trio inspected some of the ships from a launch boat on the Neva, before the Russian President said a few words to mark the occasion.
He bragged in his speech: “Today, Russia is confidently implementing the large-scale tasks of our national maritime policy and is consistently building up the strength of our Navy.
“This year alone, 30 ships of different classes are being added to the fleet.”
Among the vessels set to enter combat is the Merkury corvette, named in honour of the Black Sea Fleet’s sailing ship which gained its glory in the Russo-Turkish War.
But the tyrant made no mention of his invasion of Ukraine or the strikes in Moscow that have marred Navy Day.
The annual parade, which Putin signed into decree in 2017, is to “honour glorious victories of the Navy that made a substantial contribution to defending the Fatherland”.
Experts believe the warlord’s days of ruling Russia are numbered – with a former MI6 spy claiming he will be ousted by next year.
The combination of his ailing health, his disastrous invasion of Ukraine and the Wagner rebellion seem to have sealed his fate.
Christopher Steele, who ran MI6’s Russia desk between 2006 and 2009, said the West needs to “prepare for the end of the Putin era”.
He said “very credible sources telling us he’s been ill for some time” – suggesting the Russian leader could die suddenly from illness.
But he explained that the most likely ending for Putin will be a “violent” move to kill or topple him.
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Putin announced another 30 navy ships are set to enter combat this yearCredit: AFP
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Crowds gathered to watch the spectacle at sea in St PetersburgCredit: EPA
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Around 3,000 navy personnel took part in the annual parade on SundayCredit: AFP
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Government papers were left strewn across the streets following the drone strikesCredit: East2West
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn