Russia-US war over Kremlin drone attack… Ukraine, second day of the ‘night of shells’

The fallout from the drone attack on the Kremlin, the official residence of the Russian president, continues. The Russian government, which claimed that the attack was carried out by the Ukraine in an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin, blamed the United States for the attack on the 4th (local time). Russia, anticipating a retaliatory attack, unleashed a massive offensive across Ukraine on the second day.

John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator said in a briefing that day, “We have nothing to do with this (the attack on the Kremlin).” I am not involved in this,” he said.

“From the beginning, Russia intended to paint this war as a battle between the West and Russia, NATO and Russia, and the United States and Russia,” Kirby said.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the day before, “I know that the United States makes the decision on this terrorist act, not Ukraine. “I know the US often targets them,” he said.

Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine for two consecutive days while various possibilities such as Russia’s self-made act and Ukraine’s psychological warfare were raised over the drone attack on the Kremlin, the heart of Russian power, at dawn on the 3rd. From that night on, explosions continued in the air above major cities such as Kiiu, the capital, and Odessa in the south.

An official from Ukraine’s Southern Command said on the night of the 3rd and early in the morning of the 4th that Russia sent 24 self-destructing drones to Kiev and Odessa, and 18 were shot down among them. The Southern Command released pictures of the downed drone with the words “For Moscow” and “For the Kremlin” written on it.

On the night of the 4th, Russian drone and missile attacks continued. Air raid warnings were sounded not only in Kieu, but also in major cities throughout the country, and eight explosions occurred in Odessa. “The intensity of the attack was the strongest this year,” said Sergei Popko, the military chief of Kiiwu city. No injuries have been confirmed so far, but drone fragments damaged buildings and caused fires in various places.

Worst hit was the southern city of Kherson, which was occupied by Russia for eight months last year. On the 3rd, at least 23 people were killed and 46 injured in Kherson, where Russian forces shelled civilians indiscriminately.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted: “Railway station and crossing, house, hardware store, supermarket and gas station. “Do you know what these places have in common,” he wrote, “they are the bloody traces left by Russian shells, and the casualties are all civilians.” He released a gruesome photo of the shooting site and said, “The world should see and know this. We will never forgive criminals.”

The authorities in Kherson imposed a 58-hour curfew from 5 pm on the 5th as casualties continued. Aleksandr Prokudin, the head of Kherson’s military administration, said this step was to prepare for the threat from Russia and asked residents to stock up on water, food and medicine.

According to the latest data from the United Nations, 8,574 civilians have been killed and 14,441 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February last year.

Meanwhile, US intelligence authorities indicated that Russia is unlikely to launch a major offensive in Ukraine this year due to a lack of troops and munitions, but will not even negotiate a ceasefire. Avril Haynes, director of the US National Intelligence Service (ODNI), said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the 4th, “If Russia does not initiate forced recruitment and does not secure a significant amount of ammunition that more than its current supply from Iran and others, even a moderate offensive operation will not be possible. ” It will become increasingly difficult to maintain. “

Although Russia is building a defensive position in relation to Ukraine’s impending spring counteroffensive, it appears that it will be difficult for Russia to go on the offensive this year, regardless of Ukraine’s success. Haynes predicted that Russia would focus more on controlling the occupied eastern and southern territories, saying, “It is unlikely that Russia will negotiate a cease-fire for political reasons.”