Russian Kremlin Struck by Explosive Drone Attack, Ukrainian Assassination Attempt on Putin Suspected

On the early hours of Wednesday, footage emerged showing a plume of smoke rising from the top of the Kremlin in Moscow after an unmanned aerial vehicle with an explosive payload struck near the flagpole. Russian media has claimed two drones were part of the overnight attack. Russian presidential administration claimed the attack was targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin who has a residential quarter inside the structure. Reuters reports that footage originates from Russian citizens who live across the Mosvka River, where it quickly spread across social media. Russian media claims the drones were intercepted before the target was reached, calling it an act of terrorism and meant to disrupt Victory Day plans on May 9th. Extent of the damage is unclear at this point. This is another of several attacks taken out in Russian territory suspected of being Ukrainian in origin, others include recent industrial and factory fires thought to be sabotage and explosions causing train derailment, although a number of other attacks in this year and last year were also thought to be Ukrainian. Mikhail Sheremet, a representative of Russian-occupied Crimea, suggested the Kremlin should strike Ukrainian President Zelensky's private residence in Kyiv for retaliation. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak denied the attack came from Ukraine, dismissing it as staged.