Possible rewritten titles:– Ukraine accused by Russia of attempting to assassinate Putin with a drone attack – Putin targeted in alleged drone strike attributed by Russia to Ukraine – Kremlin claims Ukraine plotted drone assault on President Putin – Ukraine denies accusations by Russia of planning drone attack on Putin – Tensions rise as Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to kill Putin with a flying weapon

Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin in a failed attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin said two drones were used in the alleged attack on Putin’s residence in the Kremlin Castle, but that they were disabled by electronic defenses.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time and was operating from the Novo-Ogaryovo residence.

The Kremlin added that Putin was safe and that his agenda had not changed.

It also said Russia reserves the right to retaliate – a comment that suggested Moscow could use the alleged incident to justify further escalation in the 14-month-old war with Ukraine.

There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian authorities.

“Two drones targeted the Kremlin,” the Kremlin said in a statement. “As a result of the timely measures taken by the military and special services using military radar systems, the devices stopped working.”

“We consider these acts a planned terrorist act and an attempt to assassinate the president on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 parade, where foreign guests are also scheduled…

The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures whenever and wherever it deems appropriate.

She added that the fragments of the drones were scattered in the Kremlin territory, but there were no injuries or material damage.

Unverified video circulating on Russian social media, including the military news outlet Zvezda channel, showed pale smoke billowing behind the Kremlin’s main palace in the walled complex after the alleged incident.