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Attack drones hit Moscow as Kyiv struck for third day
A swarm of drones hit Moscow on Tuesday in an unprecedented attack and Russian drones struck Kyiv for a third straight day as Ukraine gears up for a major offensive against Russian forces.
The Russian defence ministry blamed Kyiv for the attacks on Moscow and the surrounding region, which left two people lightly injured and what it said was “minor” damage to buildings.
Two residential buildings that were hit are located in the affluent south-western part of the Russian capital and near the city centre. One of them is close to a popular park.
Two drones were intercepted over the Kremlin earlier this month but this was the first time that unmanned aerial vehicles hit residential areas of Moscow, which is located hundreds of kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.
The raids will be seen as a psychological blow and a major embarrassment for the Kremlin which has gone to great lengths to say the protracted conflict does not pose a threat to Russians.
Rescuers evacuate a local resident woman from a multi-storey residential building, partially destroyed after night drone attacks in Kyiv on May 30, 2023. – Ukraine on Tuesday said it had downed 29 out of 31 drones, mainly over Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the latest Russian barrage — the third on the capital in 24 hours. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
The Russian defence ministry said that eight drones were used in the attack.
The ministry said in a statement on social media that “all the enemy drones” were either downed or disabled.
Moscow and regional authorities confirmed the attack.
Sobyanin said two people had sought medical assistance after the raid but “no one has suffered serious injuries.”
Explosions
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said several drones had also been downed near the capital.
“This morning, the residents of certain districts in the Moscow region could hear explosions, it was our anti-air missile defence system,” he wrote.
“Several drones were shot down while approaching Moscow,” he added, urging residents to keep calm and adding that “all rescue services are doing their work”.
Since the start of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, drone attacks have hit targets outside Moscow, including military installations located far from the front.
A local resident carries his dog from a multi-storey residential building, partially destroyed after night drones attack in Kyiv on May 30, 2023. – Ukraine on Tuesday said it had downed 29 out of 31 drones, mainly over Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the latest Russian barrage — the third on the capital in 24 hours. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
Sobyanin said the residents of two buildings damaged in Tuesday’s strikes had been evacuated and added that they “can return to their apartments once the special services have finished their work”.
Residents told Russian journalists that a drone had entered an apartment on the 14th floor but did not explode.
“There was no blast. The police came and knocked on the door and asked all people to leave,” a resident told state news agency RIA Novosti.
Local residents leave a multi-storey residential building, partially destroyed after night drone attacks in Kyiv on May 30, 2023. – Ukraine on May 30, 2023 said it had downed 29 out of 31 drones, mainly over Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the latest Russian barrage — the third on the capital in 24 hours. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)
Also on Tuesday, Ukraine said it had downed 29 out of 31 drones, mainly over Kyiv and the Kyiv region in the latest Russian barrage — the third on the capital in 24 hours.
On Monday, Russia fired a barrage of missiles at Kyiv, sending panicked residents running for shelter in an unusual daytime attack on the Ukrainian capital following overnight strikes.
The latest barrages landed as the Ukrainian capital was still recovering from an overnight Saturday drone attack, the biggest since Russia began its campaign in Ukraine in February last year.
Kyiv received its first shipments of the American-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system in April, and US President Joe Biden on Monday suggested more aid was to come.
Asked about Russia’s fierce attacks on Kyiv, Biden told reporters, “It’s not unexpected,” adding: “That’s why we’ve got to continue to give Ukraine all that it needs.”
Kyiv has been preparing an offensive, although its timing and focus have been the subject of months of speculation.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has approved N100 million for the immediate rehabilitation of a major access road linking seven communities in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, announced the intervention on Saturday at a town hall meeting with residents and community leaders from Power Line, Awonsoso, Siba, Olupoyi, Balogun, Baba Agba and Agaloke communities.
The lawmaker said the decision followed a request by the community stakeholders, who identified the poor condition of the road as their most pressing need. He assured the residents that the rehabilitation would be completed within four months.
Oseni said the intervention was part of his commitment to people-centred representation, stressing that his legislative activities had been focused on issues capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.
He said, “Within the three years plus, I have sponsored bills and moved motions that are carefully designed to positively impact the lives and livelihoods of citizens.”
According to him, some of the legislative initiatives include moves to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Ido Local Government Area, stronger sanctions for contractors who fail to execute government projects according to specifications, and measures to improve accountability in the management of public contracts.
Oseni added that he had also advocated subsidised farm machinery for farmers, measures to reduce the cost of cancer treatment, improved food storage through modern silos and processing facilities, as well as urgent action on flooding and recurring building collapses in major cities among several others.
The lawmaker said his engagements with communities across Oyo South should not be viewed solely through the prism of the 2027 elections, despite the commencement of political activities.
“My visit here today is not to solicit for votes, but to listen and find practical ways to attend to the requests and plights of my people,” he said.
Oseni also disclosed that he had facilitated the distribution of 31 transformers across Ido and Ibarapa, with about 80 per cent of the cost funded through his foundation. He added that other interventions had included solar-powered street lights, boreholes, bridges, public toilets, educational support, infrastructure, health care services, youth and women empowerment, and assistance to artisans, traders and markets across the senatorial district.
The APC chieftain further noted that some youths had also received N1 million each as seed capital to start small businesses.
Oseni acknowledged that his primary responsibility as a federal lawmaker was to make laws and provide effective representation, but said the gap created by ineffective governance at the grassroots had made it necessary for him to support communities through interventions.
He urged youths to remain focused and resilient, recounting how he worked as a bus conductor to raise money for his secondary education before becoming an engineer, businessman and legislator.
Earlier, Chief Muibi Adegoke, Baale of Awonsoso, and Chief Azeez Saka, Baale of Elere Apata, commended the lawmaker for what they described as his performance in legislation and community development. They pledged their support for his political aspiration ahead of the 2027 election.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, religious leaders, community elders, women and youth leaders from the affected communities.
(c) Mega Icon Magazine
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