Russia on Wednesday intensified attacks in eastern Ukraine and banned drone flights in Moscow and St Petersburg after accusing Kiev of carrying out an attack on the Kremlin with unmanned aerial vehicles on Tuesday.
Ukrainian authorities activated anti-aircraft alerts in Kiev and the eastern region on Wednesday after Russian strikes left 16 dead and 22 wounded in the Kherson area, according to a new balance from local authorities.
“Mass attacks on civilians in Kherson region: death toll rises to 16 people”informed the regional prosecutor’s office and added that there were 22 injured, with varying degrees of severity.
Ukrainian authorities have reported two attacks on a supermarket and a train station in the town of Kherson, close to the frontline, leaving at least four dead and several injured.
Another bombing killed three people doing repairs at a factory in the region.
The Russian bombings come on the same day that Moscow accused Kiev of being behind a drone attack on the Kremlin, aimed at assassinating Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In response to the incident, Russian authorities banned the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
“We have taken the decision to ban the use of ‘drones’ in Moscow from today”said the mayor of the Russian capital, Serguei Sobyanin, on the Telegram platform.
Sobyanin added that only “drones” used for state purposes are allowed to fly in the airspace of the capital.
The mayor stressed that the unauthorized launch of ‘drones’ is a “crime and carries administrative and criminal responsibilities”.
A spokesman for Moscow’s emergency services told Russia’s TASS agency that about 300 daily warnings for “drone” flights have been received in the capital so far.
A few hours after the ban announced by the Moscow municipality, the authorities of the second Russian city, Saint Petersburg, also decided to ban drone flights at least until May 15.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and to impose on Russia political and economic sanctions.
Information provided by the parties about the situation on the fronts cannot be immediately and independently confirmed.
Source: DN
