Key Points
- A drone attack on Moscow has forced evacuations of some buildings.
- The Russian military has carried out new wave of air strikes on Kyiv.
- One person has died after a Kyiv apartment block was hit by debris.
Ukrainian drones have struck wealthy districts of Moscow, Russian authorities say, while officials in Kyiv say the city was also hit from the air for the third time in 24 hours.
Since Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to its neighbour in February 2022, the war has largely been fought inside Ukraine.
Aerial strikes on targets far from the front lines have intensified recently amid a messy stalemate on the ground with Russian forces entrenched in Ukraine's east and south.
Russia's defence ministry said eight drones sent by Ukraine and targeting civilians were shot down or diverted with electronic jammers although Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said more than 25 were involved.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential aide, denied Ukraine was directly involved but said "we are pleased to watch events" and forecast more such strikes.
Two people were injured while some apartment blocks were briefly evacuated, according to Moscow's mayor.
Residents said they heard loud bangs followed by the smell of petrol. Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke.
Tuesday's early-morning drone volley targeted some of Moscow's most prestigious districts including where Mr Putin and the elite have residences.
An apartment building was reportedly damaged by a Ukrainian drone in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, 30 May 2023. Source: AP / AP
Mr Putin said Ukraine's biggest-ever drone strike on Moscow was an attempt to frighten and provoke Russia, and that air defences around the Russian capital would be strengthened.
Ukraine, Mr Putin said, had chosen the path of trying "to intimidate Russia, Russian citizens and attacks on residential buildings".
Civilian targets in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have since the earliest days of the war been struck repeatedly by Russian drones and missiles.
But Tuesday marked only the second time the Russian capital had come under direct fire, after an apparent drone strike on the Kremlin earlier this month that Russia also blamed on Ukraine and said was meant to kill Mr Putin.
The White House said it was still gathering information on the reports of drones striking Moscow while reiterating that the United States did not support attacks inside Russia.
The US is "focused on providing Ukraine with the equipment and training they need to retake their own sovereign territory," a spokeswoman said in a statement.
Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since Nazi Germany's invasion in World War Two, saying no Russian could now avoid "the new reality".
"The sabotage and terrorist attacks of Ukraine will only increase," said another Russian lawmaker, Alexander Khinshtein, who called for a radical strengthening of defences.
"Do not underestimate the enemy!"
Russian state television gave the attacks calm coverage, and many Muscovites carried on with their lives with the fatalism for which they are famous.
Most shrugged their shoulders and many voiced sadness that the conflict seemed to be spreading.
Olga, who said she lived near to the site of one of the drone collisions on Profsoyuznaya Street, called the strikes "logical, to be expected... what else were we waiting for?".
Ukraine said four people died around Ukraine in Russia's latest attacks on Tuesday, with 34 wounded including two children.
"Russia is trying to break us and break our will," Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Mr Klymenko said.
In the capital, authorities said Ukraine shot down more than 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones.
Two upper floors were destroyed with people possibly still under rubble and flames engulfing the top.
With Mr Putin wanted by the International Criminal Court to face war crimes charges, there has been speculation over his possible attendance at an August summit in South Africa where authorities would theoretically be obliged to arrest him.
Asked about that, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would participate in the BRICS meeting at "the proper level," with further details to be announced.
The group comprises China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Russia put Ukraine's top generals on a "wanted list," RIA news agency said.
