23 August 2023 , 06:39
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Ukraine has staged a new kamikaze drone attack on Moscow’s skyscraper district, triggering a huge explosion.
A blast ripped into the tenth to 15th floors of the new One Tower, under construction in the elite financial, government and residential zone. The high-rise was hit by one of three military UAVs to target Moscow overnight - as the US warned Ukraine it did not support or facilitate its strikes inside Russia.
It was the sixth consecutive day that drones were aimed at Moscow, the most intense attacks in a war which will mark 18 months tomorrow, said reports. Once again, there was disruption at Moscow’s four main airports as flights were suspended during the drone incursions.
Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said: "Air defences downed a drone in the Mozhaisky district of Moscow region, while another unmanned aerial vehicle hit a building under construction in the City.”
A blast ripped into the tenth to 15th floors of the new One Tower (Social media/e2w)Later Russia claimed there were a total of three drones, two of which were shot down with the third allegedly jammed by electronic warfare weaponry before hitting the skyscraper.
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Damage was reported to buildings in Khimki, a suburb close to major international airport Sheremetyevo. “City emergency services are inspecting the area within the City perimeter for the effects of the strike,” said the mayor. “Several windows were smashed in two adjacent five-story buildings. There were no casualties.”
The blast in the downtown skyscraper district was close to the iconic 75-floor Mercury City Tower. This district - known as Moscow City - has been repeatedly targeted by the Ukrainians. Emergency services rushed to the scene but there were no reports of casualties.
There were also reports of explosions in suburb Odintsovo, believed to be caused by Russian air defences targeting incoming kamikaze drones. Residents earlier heard the sound of a flying drone. Ukraine does not admit responsibility for the strikes, but they are widely seen as conducted in response to Vladimir Putin ’s relentless bombardment of Kyiv and other major cities.
The blast in the downtown skyscraper district was close to the iconic 75-floor Mercury City Tower (Social media/e2w)Today's attacks came as Ukrainians marked their annual Flag Day. Flights later resumed after disruption at four Moscow airports - Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky. The UK said that it did not encourage or enable Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.
But a US State Department spokesman said it was up to Ukraine to decide how it chooses to defend itself from the Russian invasion that began in February last year. Russia could end the war any time by withdrawing from Ukraine, it said.