Ukroboronprom has released a photo showing a section of a 1,000-km-range strike UAV in development.
Russian officials said on May 3 that they destroyed two uncrewed aircraft vehicles (UAVs) that attempted to strike the Kremlin residence of President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
A statement from the Kremlin’s press service blamed the attacks on the Ukrainian government.
Several Ukrainian-launched strike UAVs have come within roughly 100 nm of the outskirts of Moscow before they were shot down or crashed, but the Kremlin statement is the first report of a strike attempt that reached the center of the Russian capital.
“We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the President, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9th Parade,” the Kremlin said.
The military and special services destroyed the incoming UAVs with electronic warfare systems, the Kremlin said. Although the Russians described a non-kinetic intercept, the UAVs still broke apart, with pieces falling on the Kremlin grounds but causing no injuries.
In previous strikes, Russia has identified the Ukrainian UAVs as Tu-141s, which are Soviet-era reconnaissance UAVs that Ukraine had modified into cruise missiles. Ukroboronprom, Ukraine's state-owned weapons manufacturer, also has said it was developing a new strike UAV or loitering munition with a 75-kg (165-lb.) warhead and range of 1,000 km (621 mi.).
The reported attacks on the Kremlin come after Russia increased the visible presence of air defense systems inside Moscow in early January, which included the installation of an interceptor battery on the roof of the Ministry of Defense.
Ukrainian officials have not responded to the Kremlin reports of the attempted air strike. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy departed Kyiv on May 3 to travel to Helsinki to meet with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.
“Strengthening the capabilities of our warriors on the battlefield and securing capabilities of Ukraine is the objective of today’s visit,” Zelensky said in a statement.
On May 1, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it had shot down 15 cruise missiles launched by Russia, but other Russian missiles killed two and damaged several buildings in Chernihiv and Pavlohrad.
