According to reports, Ukrainian secret service personnel attempted to assassinate Vladimir Putin with a bomb-laden kamikaze drone.
On Sunday, forces allegedly launched a UJ-22 drone from Ukraine, equipped with 17kg of C4 plastic explosives, with the goal of reaching a newly built industrial area near Moscow, where the President was scheduled to visit.
According to Yuriy Romanenko, a source for the German daily Bild, Russian authorities are attempting to keep the attempt quiet.
Romanenko claims to have close contacts to Kyiv’s intelligence services and alleges that Ukrainian secret service officers learned about Putin’s apparent visit to the industrial site.
In a tweet cited by Bild, Romanenko said: “Putin we are getting closer. Everyone saw the news about the drone that flew to Moscow, but did not explode? So, this drone flew for a reason.
“Last week, our intelligence officers received information about Putin’s trip to the industrial park in Rudnevo.
“Accordingly, our kamikaze drone took off, which flew through all the air defences of the Russian Federation and crashed not far from the industrial park.”
Putin propagandist Paval Zarubin tweeted on Sunday morning that Putin planned to “visit an industrial park in Moscow” but did not specify when.
However, Russian official media said that Putin was scheduled to visit the Rudnevo industrial park today and have a conference on the development of unmanned aircraft systems.
Romanenko said: “Considering how much Putin is obsessed with his own security, this story could have huge implications for the Kremlin towers.”
Ukraine expert Sergej Sumlenny told Bild: “It is clear that a precision strike against the Russian head of state with a kamikaze drone is an almost impossible action.
“But the very fact that such a drone would reach a place where Putin plans to stay is a slap in the face for the Russian dictator.”