Ukraine war latest: Russia says Kyiv’s ‘terrorist’ drone attack on Moscow thwarted

The Russian Defence Ministry has accused Ukraine of launching a “terrorist attack” after Moscow’s air defence intercepted and destroyed two drones within the early hours at present.

Fragments of the drone, possible shot down within the thwarting try, have been discovered 2km (1.2 miles) away from the Russian defence ministry constructing, the state information businesses reported.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin mentioned on his Telegram channel that two non-residential buildings have been struck through the attack, which occurred round 4am (0100 GMT).

It was unclear whether or not the drones hit the buildings after they have been downed, or whether or not they intentionally focused the buildings.

Fragments of a drone have been present in central Moscow at present, some 2km (1.2 miles) away from the defence ministry’s principal constructing, Russian emergency providers mentioned.

Komsomolsky Avenue from the centre of Moscow in direction of the outskirts of town was closed, mentioned RIA information company, citing Moscow’s Division of Transport.

At the very least two loud explosions have been heard by witnesses earlier than the drone fragments have been discovered, in keeping with the reviews.

No casualties have been reported to date, the emergency providers mentioned.

Residents of a number of districts in Moscow’s southwest and south reported the sounds of explosions, in keeping with the messages on Russia’s FSB-linked Telegram channels.

Russia’s air-defence forces thwarted a Ukraine drone attack on Moscow early early at present, Russia’s defence ministry mentioned.

Two drones have been intercepted and destroyed in a non-residential space, officers mentioned earlier.

The drones struck two non-residential buildings in Moscow at round 4am (0100 GMT), Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin mentioned on Telegram.

“There was no critical injury or accidents,” he mentioned.

The NATO-Ukraine Council is about to fulfill on wedneday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned in his nightly video handle on Sunday.

It’s anticipated that Black Sea safety will probably be prime of the agenda, following Russia’s with withdrawal from a year-old deal overseeing grain exports from Ukrainian ports, and the latest bombing of Odesa.

The assembly was first requested by Zelenskiy in a phone dialog with NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg on Saturday.

Zelenskiy mentioned on Sunday the assembly was amongst a number of occasions Ukraine was making ready for within the coming week that will strengthen the nation’s protection.

He mentioned new help packages have been being ready, which is able to embrace extra air protection, artillery, and long-range weapons.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has mentioned that Italy is able to help Ukraine with the reconstruction of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa.

In a press release, Meloni mentioned: “The assaults on Odesa, the deaths of harmless folks, and the destruction of the Transfiguration Cathedral deeply sadden us.

“Italy, with its distinctive expertise in restoration on the earth, is able to be part of the reconstruction of the cathedral and different treasures of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.”

Proper-wing Prime Minister Meloni has emerged as a staunch supporter of Kyiv, regardless of a few of her conservative coalition allies beforehand sustaining shut ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Odesa’s Transfiguration Cathedral has now been “destroyed twice,” mentioned Ukraine‘s defence ministry: By Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet chief Joseph Stalin.

The unique early Nineteenth-century cathedral was demolished in 1936 as a part of Stalin’s anti-religious campaigns, and rebuilt when Ukraine gained independence from Moscow in 1991.

The newest attack has seen elements of the constructing have been destroyed, with flooring coated in rubble and chunks have been ripped off the cathedral’s ornate partitions.

Russia has attacked Odesa with missiles and drones a number of occasions because it withdrew on Monday from a year-old deal that had allowed for protected exports of Ukraine‘s grain from Black Sea ports.

Odesa’s ports have been the departure level for grain leaving Ukraine within the Turkey and UN-brokered settlement.

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken mentioned Ukraine has taken again about 50% of the territory that Russia seized, though Kyiv’s counteroffensive will lengthen a number of months.

“It’s already taken again about 50% of what was initially seized,” Blinken mentioned in an interview to CNN on Sunday.

“These are nonetheless comparatively early days of the counteroffensive. It’s powerful,” he mentioned, including: “It won’t play out over the subsequent week or two. We’re nonetheless trying I feel at a number of months.”

Ukraine has recaptured some villages within the south and territory across the ruined metropolis of Bakhmut within the east, however has not had a significant breakthrough in opposition to closely defended Russian strains.

When requested if Ukraine will get U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, Blinken mentioned he believed it will. “And the essential focus is on ensuring that after they do, they’re correctly skilled, they’re in a position to keep the planes, and use them in a wise method.”

New video footage is circulating on social media of an outside service held on the Transfiguration Cathedral, after it was bombed within the early hours of Sunday.

Crowds of individuals are seen to gentle candles in entrance of the cracked edifice of the bombed-out cathedral.

Archdeacon Andrii Palchuk held the service after volunteers helped put out fires and clear rubble inside.

The congregation gathered exterior in entrance of a sacred icon that had “miraculously survived”, Palchuk mentioned.

At the very least one particular person was killed and 22 others wounded in early morning missile strikes on the Ukrainian Black Sea metropolis of Odesa, in keeping with officers.

4 youngsters have been amongst these wounded, whereas blasts additionally severely broken 25 landmarks throughout town, together with the historic Transfiguration Cathedral.

Learn our newest report on what has occurred in Ukraine at present beneath.