Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday pledged to intensify retaliatory actions against Ukraine following a drone attack on the central Russian city of Kazan the previous day.
Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a “massive” drone strike that targeted a luxury apartment complex in Kazan, located approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Videos circulating on Russian social media depicted drones colliding with a high-rise glass building, causing significant fireballs, although no casualties were reported.
During a televised government meeting, Putin stated, “Whoever, and however much they try to destroy, they will face many times more destruction themselves and will regret what they are trying to do in our country.” He made these remarks while addressing the local leader of Tatarstan, where Kazan is situated, during a road-opening ceremony conducted via video link.
This incident marks the latest in a series of escalating aerial attacks amid the nearly three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine has not officially commented on the Kazan strike.
Previously, Putin has threatened to use hypersonic ballistic missiles against central Kyiv in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil. Additionally, the Russian defense ministry has described recent strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as retaliatory measures for Kyiv’s use of Western-supplied missiles against Russian air bases and arms factories.
The threat from Putin coincides with Russia’s claims of making new territorial gains in eastern Ukraine.
