Unhappy Vladimir Putin is spotted testing out new commuter train
Unhappy Vladimir Putin is spotted testing out Moscow’s newest commuter train the same day a Ukrainian drone explodes after hitting building three miles from the Kremlin
- The drone was shot down by air defences and it caused ‘no significant damage’
It was supposed to be a landmark day for Vladimir Putin as he yesterday toured a model of a new commuter train coming to Moscow.
But the Russian president looked far from impressed as he sat in the gleaming new carriage, as a kamikaze drone targeted the city and struck a building three miles from the Kremlin.
Putin looked like he had a case of the blues as he tested the comfort of the train’s seats with Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
The drone struck an exhibition centre, with footage showing a flash and an explosion as it hit the building. The unmanned craft, suspected to be Ukrainian, was shot down by Moscow’s air defences and caused ‘no significant damage’, Russian officials claim.
But images of the Moscow Expo Centre, used for shows and conferences, show destruction caused to an outer wall. A resident named Maria said: ‘We live in the tower opposite, on the 68th floor. We heard a bang and saw a flash.
The drone struck an exhibition centre, with footage showing a flash and an explosion as it hit the building
Putin (left) looked like he had a case of the blues as he tested the comfort of the train’s seats with Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin (right)
Vladimir Putin and Sergey Sobyanin toured a model of a new commuter train coming to Moscow
‘At first we thought it had hit the Federation Tower [Moscow’s tallest building], but it turned out to be the Expo Centre. We could see… smoke from our windows.’
Another resident said: ‘My windows overlooking were open. I felt a blast wave – it became hot right in my flat. I’m in shock.’
The Russian defence ministry claimed the 4am drone strike was ‘another terrorist attack using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) against targets in Moscow’.
A statement said: ‘The UAV changed its flight trajectory after being hit by air defence weapons and crashed into a non-residential building – there were no casualties or fires.’ Later reports said the damage covered 325sq ft of Moscow’s business district.
It came as Russia announced sanctions on the British International Criminal Court prosecutor seeking Putin’s arrest.
Members of the UK Government were also included in the list issued by the foreign ministry, which denounced the ‘unwavering military support from London’ to Kyiv.
Karim Khan issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March on the accusation of having unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.
And Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer was accused of ‘actively pushing for the international sporting isolation of Russia’ by the country’s foreign ministry. Meanwhile, the US government confirmed it was giving its ‘full support’ for F-16 fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine.
The Russian defence ministry claimed the 4am drone strike was ‘another terrorist attack using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) against targets in Moscow’
The damaged Expocentre building following a drone attack in Moscow on August 18
Putin and Sobyanin attend a ceremony to launch the Line D3 of the Moscow Central Diametres
A new kamikaze drone attack led to a major explosion at Moscow’s main exhibition centre, and the temporary closure of all the city’s main airports
In a letter to the Danish and Dutch governments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was crucial that Ukraine was able to protect itself from Russian attacks.
Mr Blinken wrote: ‘I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors.
‘It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty.’
The US had been reluctant to supply F-16s for fears of escalating tensions between Nato and Moscow.
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