Topline
U.S. officials believe Ukraine carried out a drone strike on the Kremlin earlier this month, the New York Times reported Wednesday, after Russia initially blamed the U.S. for the strike they claimed was intended to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
U.S. officials believe Ukraine was responsible for a drone attack on the Kremlin earlier this month.
Key Facts
A Ukrainian special military or intelligence unit likely conducted the drone attack, which was shot down by Russian forces on May 3, according to a preliminary assessment by U.S. intelligence officials, the Times reported.
U.S. officials made the claim with low confidence, the Times reported, citing lack of specific evidence on which Ukrainian units or officials were involved.
Russia initially claimed the attack was an attempt on Putin’s life, marking a consequential escalation in Russia’s war in Ukraine, and one day later blamed the U.S. for the strike, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not provide evidence to back up the claim and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected it.
Key Background
The two unmanned drones exploded over the Kremlin after being struck down by Russia’s electronic air defense systems in the early morning on May 3, just days before Moscow’s scheduled Victory Day parade, which celebrates Russia’s military victory over Germany in World War II. The attack also comes more than one year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and as both U.S. and Ukrainian officials warn of a heightened Russian offensive after Ukrainian forces were able to take back key ground in occupied eastern Ukraine over the fall and winter, and as the Russian mercenary organization the Wagner Group claims attacks on Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv are escalating. Over the past month, fighting has concentrated on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a key holdout that has been obliterated by torrents of aerial attacks, with Russia claiming to take control of the city earlier this week.
Contra
The U.S. has directed Ukraine more than $75 billion in military and humanitarian aid, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, though officials have also urged Ukraine not to strike beyond its borders, warning such an attack would likely escalate the war. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said last month that U.S. officials have been “clear and consistent” in not “encouraging or enabling” Ukraine to attack Russia on Russian soil.
Further Reading
Ukraine Denies Making Assassination Attempt On Putin (Forbes)
Russia Blames U.S. For Drone Attack On Kremlin (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/05/24/us-believes-ukraine-behind-kremlin-drone-attack-report-says/