Ukraine: Kiev denies any drone attack on the Kremlin, bloody day in Kherson

A Ukrainian firefighter attends the Kherson train station, hit by a Russian army bombardment, May 3, 2023. REUTERS - CARLOS BARRIA

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The Kremlin announced on Wednesday (May 3rd) that two drones had targeted the Kremlin in Moscow overnight and had been neutralized by anti-radar systems. Russia has accused Ukraine and denounced an attempted terrorist act and attempt on the life of President Vladimir Putin. Kiev categorically refutes, while the city of Kherson has suffered new deadly bombings.

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With our correspondent in Kiev, Stéphane Siohan

From Helsinki, where he went on May 3 for a summit of Nordic countries, Volodymyr Zelensky was very clear after Moscow's accusations, following the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin. "We are not attacking Putin or Moscow, we are fighting on our territory, we are defending our villages and cities. We don't have enough weapons to do that," said the Ukrainian president, who added in essence that he leaves it "to the court" to attack Vladimir Putin.

Tension is rising on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides in the run-up to the May 9 celebrations in Moscow, an important date and subject to much speculation around whether or not a military parade will be held, and possible Ukrainian threats. In Kiev, it is suggested that the drone blast in Moscow could be a provocation deliberately orchestrated by the Kremlin.

But we must also highlight the context of the Ukrainian spring counter-offensive, which is being set up invisibly before our eyes, with preparations along the front lines, but also sabotage actions that have taken place in recent days against Russian trains and military logistics structures, in border regions, on the territory of the Russian Federation.

At least 21 civilians killed in Kherson

During the day of Wednesday, the Russians carried out a "chaotic bombardment" on the city of Kherson, according to the term of the Ukrainian authorities. Several rockets fell in the city on civilian targets: the train station was hit, an ambulance, as well as two supermarkets.

The provisional toll is dramatic: at least 21 civilians killed and 48 wounded. The images coming from Kherson are absolutely terrible. One of the missiles hit a shopping mall of the Epicentre brand, Ukraine's leading supermarket and DIY retailer.

Strolling through the shelves of Epicentre is one of the passions of Ukrainians. These shops are extremely busy. There was no military objective there; The Russian army knew perfectly well what it was doing, striking there.

" READ ALSO – In the Donbass with a Franco-Ukrainian volunteer, at the front facing the Russian troops

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• Ukraine
• Russia
• Volodymyr Zelensky
• Vladimir Poutine