Kremlin confirms Putin warning after Ukrainian drone strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart, Donald Trump, that Moscow would respond to Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian airbases, the Kremlin has confirmed.
Following a phone call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump announced on his Truth Social account that the two leaders had discussed Ukraine's recent drone strikes on docked Russian airplanes and 'various other attacks.' According to Trump, Putin had told him 'very strongly that he will have to respond' to the attacks.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had told Trump about an upcoming response. However, Peskov did not disclose any details about what the retaliation would entail, stating only that it would be carried out 'when and how our military deems appropriate.'
Ukrainian drones hit multiple Russian airbases on Sunday in a coordinated assault. Targets ranged from Murmansk in the Arctic to Irkutsk in Siberia.
Kiev claims the strikes damaged or destroyed approximately 40 Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers. Moscow, however, has stated that the aircraft were only damaged and would undergo repairs.
Kiev also committed railway sabotage over the weekend, killing at least seven people and injuring over 110 in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) also reported on Thursday that an explosive device had damaged a railway track in Voronezh Region, and that the blast had occurred 'directly in front of an approaching train.'
Severe consequences were only prevented by 'the professional actions of the train driver and crew, who noticed the track damage and carried out emergency braking,' the agency added.
Putin has described the railway sabotage incidents as 'undoubtedly a terrorist act' committed by the 'illegitimate regime in Kiev,' claiming that it was 'gradually turning into a terrorist organization.'
Shortly after Trump and Putin's phone call on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Kiev issued a security alert, warning of a 'continued risk of significant air attacks.' The US State Department has advised Americans currently in Ukraine to identify shelter locations in advance and keep reserves of water, food, and medication.
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