An alleged drone attack on the Kremlin has raised questions about what happened and who was responsible. Videos on Russian social media show two objects flying towards the dome of the Senate in the early hours of Wednesday. The first object appeared to be destroyed while the second left blazing wreckage on the dome. Russia called it a terrorist attack and an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Western security analysts dismissed the idea that the attack was meant to kill Putin, as he was not present at the time. Ukraine denied responsibility for the attack and said they fight on their territory.
If Ukraine was responsible for the attack, it would be their most audacious act to date. Some Western analysts said it was possible that Russia staged the incident itself to pin the blame on Ukraine and justify a response. The Biden administration has poured cash and weapons into Ukraine to help defend against Russia’s invasion. The incident comes at a moment of high tension and potential turning point in the war. The statement from Putin’s office pointed to a significant response. Western analysts questioned how far it was possible for Russia to escalate, given the death and destruction it has already inflicted on Ukraine with mass missile strikes.
