Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

US denies Russia's accusations of coordinating Kremlin drone attack, EU urges Moscow not to escalate war

by The Kyiv Independent news desk May 4, 2023 9:51 PM 2 min read
An unidentified drone has reportedly exploded just above the Kremlin Senate building on May 3. (Screenshot from the video circulating on social media)
This audio is created with AI assistance

White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby called Russian claims that the U.S. was behind the May 3 alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Kremlin "ridiculous," CNN reported.

"I would just tell you Mr. (Dmitry) Peskov's lying. I mean, it's obviously a ludicrous claim. The United States had nothing to do with this. We don't even know what happened here," Kirby told CNN. "But I can assure you the United States had no role in it whatsoever."

The White House still doesn't know who was behind the Moscow incident and does not "endorse, encourage, or support attacks on individual leaders," the U.S. official added.

His words come shortly after the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the U.S. had coordinated the purported attack and Ukraine "complied" with the order to carry it out.

ISW: Russia may have staged Kremlin drone strike to bring war home to domestic audience
Several indicators suggest that a drone strike against the Kremlin on May 3 was internally conducted and purposefully staged by Russia, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update.

Peskov also said Russia was considering "a variety of options" on how to respond to the event, which Moscow considers a Ukrainian assassination attempt on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's life.

The European Union's chief diplomat Josep Borrell also reacted to Russian claims, calling on the country "not to use this alleged attack as an excuse to continue the escalation of the war," as quoted by CNN.

"What worries us is this can be used in order to justify more conscription of people, soldiers, more attacks on Ukraine," Borrell told reporters, adding that the "only solution for the war" is to support Ukraine "militarily, politically, and economically."

Russia claimed that the Kremlin was targeted by two drones overnight on May 3. Video footage from Red Square showed drones exploding over the Kremlin's presidential residence.

Ukrainian officials have denied any involvement in the incident. "We do not attack Putin or Moscow. We are fighting on our territory, defending our villages and cities. We don't have enough weapons even for that," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

3:44 PM

Russian ICBM strike would be 'clear escalation,' EU says.

"While we're assessing the full facts, it's obvious that such (an) attack would mark yet another clear escalation from the side of (Russian President Vladimir Putin," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said, according to AFP.
1:40 PM

Merkel describes Trump as 'fascinated by Putin' in her memoir.

"(Donald Trump) saw everything from the point of view of a property developer, which is what he was before he came into politics. Every plot of land could only be sold once, and if he didn't get it, someone else would," Angela Merkel says in her memoir.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.