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President Vladimir Putin ordered tighter border controls with Ukraine after a spate of drone strikes. Photo/Independent
MOSCOW – President Russia Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to tighten border controls with Ukraine . It was done after a spate drone strike which created a new challenge for Moscow a year after it invaded its neighbours.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry one drone crashed on Tuesday just 100 km southeast of the Russian capital, Moscow, while two others crashed in southern Russia.
Authorities also closed the airspace over the northern city of St Petersburg in response to what some reports said were drones, while several Russian television stations broadcast warnings of a missile attack which officials blamed for the hack.
There were no reports of casualties in the attack.
“Regarding the incident of the UAV downing in the Kolomna district… the target is probably a civilian infrastructure facility, which was not damaged,” Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said in a statement, referring to the unmanned aerial vehicle.
“There were no casualties or damage on the pitch. The FSB (security service) and other competent authorities are investigating,” Vorobyov added as quoted by Al Jazeera, Wednesday (1/3/2023).
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Russian authorities have not specified what infrastructure may have been targeted, but Russian energy giant Gazprom is operating a facility near the village of Gubastovo, where the drone crashed.
Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, but have previously avoided directly acknowledging attacks and sabotage
The drone pictures show it is a Ukrainian made type. The drone reportedly has a range of up to 800 km but is not capable of carrying large amounts of explosives.
