Vladimir Putin survives a 'planned terrorist act', according to the Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residence was allegedly the target of a drone attack last night which the Kremlin claims to have foiled, as reported by Russian news agencies.

The Kremlin said two drones had been used,but were disabled by Russian defences. RIA Novosti news agency said:

The Kremlin has assessed these actions as a planned terrorist act and an assassination attempt on the president on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 Parade.

It said there were no victims or material damage reported and Putin was unharmed.

Vladimir Putin alleged victim of assassination attempt

While Putin has living quarters at the Kremlin, it claims he was not there at the time. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the RIA Novosti that Putin is currently working at his out-of-town residence where he usually lives in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow.

Recently, there have been reports that Putin has been fortifying his various palaces in an attempt to protect himself from an event such as this.

The Kremlin said in a statement.

On Wednesday night, the Kyiv regime made an attempt to strike using a UAV the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin,

Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin. As a result of timely actions taken by the military and special services with the use of radar warfare systems, the vehicles were disabled.

It also vowed to retaliate, saying:

The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit.

The Kremlin said Putin's work schedule remains unchanged.

Read more ⋙ Vladimir Putin’s 'secret girlfriend' Alina Kabaeva makes rare appearance outside of Russia

Read more:

⋙ Vladimir Putin described as an insatiable 'creature' after latest 'tactics of terror'

⋙ Vladimir Putin: Kremlin makes rare statement about his health, says 'his energy can only be envied'

Russia blames Ukraine for attack

Russian authorities have reportedly accused Ukraine of attempting to kill Putin. Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied involvement, saying:

Of course, Ukraine has nothing to do with drone attacks on the Kremlin. We do not attack the Kremlin because, first of all, it does not resolve any military tasks.

He added:

In my opinion, it is absolutely obvious that both 'reports about an attack on the Kremlin' and simultaneously the supposed detention of Ukrainian saboteurs in Crimea.. clearly indicates the preparation of a large scale terrorist provocation by Russia in the coming days.

Military expert analyst Sean Bell also cast doubt on the claims, saying there's 'an information war going on'. He told Sky News:

There are a lot of commentators that believe that Moscow will launch false flag incidents inside Russia to focus Russia's domestic audience on the fact that it needs to protect its own people.

Bell added that it 'does feel odd that Ukraine would be so audacious as to mount something in Moscow'.

As a result of the alleged attack, the Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyan said all unauthorised civilian drones will be banned to 'prevent an illegal use of unmanned aircraft that could hamper the work of law enforcement agencies'.

Two videos are circulating on Russian social media that appear to show smoke rising over the Kremlin Palace following the alleged attack. However, Sky News has been unable to verify the footage.

Sources used:

The Telegraph: 'Ukraine war live: Putin survives 'assassination attempt' at Kremlin'

Sky News: 'Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin 'assassination attempt' as Kremlin residence 'attacked by drones', Moscow claims'

The Independent: 'Ukraine-Russia war – latest: Moscow claims Kremlin attacked in Putin assassination attempt'

Reuters: 'Ukraine says it has nothing to do with Kremlin drone attack'