ISTANBUL

​​​​​​​Russia announced late Wednesday that it opened a criminal case for the alleged drone attack by Ukraine on the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“A criminal case was initiated under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (terrorist act) in connection with an attempt by the Kyiv regime to strike with unmanned aerial vehicles at the Kremlin residence of the President of the Russian Federation,” the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement on Telegram.

Russia claimed that Ukraine attempted to strike the president's residence with two drones, which, it said, were shot down on Tuesday night.

“We view these actions as a planned terrorist attack and an assassination attempt targeting the President, carried out ahead of Victory Day and the May 9 Parade, where foreign guests are expected to be present, among others,” it said.

It added that Putin was not injured in the attack and that Russia reserves the “right to take retaliatory measures where and when it deems appropriate.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have since denied Kyiv’s involvement in the drone attack.