On Saturday, several explosives-laden UAVs hit buildings in Russia's Kazan, setting fire to the buildings, authorities said. It is being reported that three kamikaze drones have struck residential high-rises in the Russian city of Kazan. Several news outlets have published what appear to be video clips shot by eyewitnesses, depicting the moment of the attack and its aftermath. Following the attack, Kazan airport has temporarily halted flight arrivals and departures, says Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia.
In the aftermath of the attack, emergency services reached the site of the incidents, according to TASS. While residents are being evacuated from the impacted building, no casualties have been reported so far. The press service of Tatarstan's governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that eight drones attacked the city. Six hit residential buildings, one hit an industrial facility and one was shot down over a river, the statement said.
What does the video show?
A video posted on local Telegram news channel Astra, verified by The Associated Press, shows a drone flying into the upper floors of a high-rise building.
Local authorities said there were no casualties. Flights were halted at Kazan's airport and all mass gatherings cancelled on Saturday and Sunday. The attacks, which Ukraine didn't acknowledge in keeping with its security policy, comes after a Ukrainian attack Friday on a town in Russia's Kursk border region using US-supplied missiles killed six people, including a child.
Moscow sent 113 drones into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine's Air Force, 57 drones were shot down during the attacks. A further 56 drones were “lost,” likely having been electronically jammed. The governor of Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, said eight people were wounded Friday night in drone attacks on the regional capital, also called Kharkiv.
Earlier on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said on its own Telegram channel that its air defences had shot down one “Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the Republic of Tatarstan,” whose capital is Kazan. The statement was later cited by the city administration. Putin has previously demanded that Ukraine should renounce its bid to join NATO and recognise Russia’s gains. However, Kyiv and the West have rejected those demands.
Ukrainian drones intercepted many times since Russia-Ukraine conflict
After the start of Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Ukrainian drones have been intercepted multiple times over Russia's capital Moscow as well as other Russian regions. However, only a few UAVs have been able to reach the target.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to compromise over Ukraine if any talks take place between him and US President-elect Donald Trump on ending the war. He added that he had no conditions for starting talks with the Ukrainian authorities.
(With agency inputs)
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