Russia’s Putin promises ‘destruction’ on Ukraine after Kazan drone attack russia-ukraine war news
Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a ‘large-scale’ drone attack that hit a luxury apartment block in the city, about 1,000 km (620 miles) from the border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised retaliation after Ukrainian drones attacked residential buildings in the city of Kazan in Russia’s Tatarstan region.
Putin made the comments via videolink while addressing Tatarstan’s local leader at a road-inauguration ceremony on Sunday.
“No matter who and how much they try to destroy, they themselves will face many times greater destruction and will regret what they are trying to do to our country,” Putin said.
On Saturday morning, six Ukrainian drones attacked residential buildings in Kazan and a seventh attacked an industrial facility. No injuries were officially reported in the attack, while media reports indicated that three people suffered injuries from broken window glass.
Videos on Russian social media networks showed the drone hitting a tall glass building and releasing a fireball, although no casualties were reported as a result of the attack.
Kazan is more than 1,000 km (600 mi) from the Ukrainian border. Although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack, it is believed to be a response to a Russian missile attack against Kiev.
Putin previously threatened to target the center of Kiev with hypersonic ballistic missiles in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
Putin’s threat comes as Russia claims new progress on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its troops had “liberated” the villages of Lozova in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Krasnoye – known as Sontsivka in Ukraine.
The latter is close to the resource center of Kurakhov, which Russia has virtually encircled and would be a key prize in Moscow’s effort to capture the entire Donetsk region.
Russia has stepped up its advances into eastern Ukraine in recent months, seeking to secure as much territory as possible before US President-elect Donald Trump comes to power in January.
Republicans have promised a quick end to the nearly three-year-long conflict, without proposing any concrete terms for a ceasefire or peace deal.
Moscow’s military claims to have seized more than 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, while Kiev is struggling to hold the line despite a shortage of manpower and ammunition.
