Speaking on a visit to Finland, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine does not attack Moscow or Putin and is only fighting to defend its own territory.

According to unverified footage circulating online, smoke rose over the Kremlin early on Wednesday, and a small explosion was seen above the site’s Senate building. The Russian presidency claimed that two drones had been disabled using electronic radar assets and that Putin was not in the complex at the time of the alleged attack.

The Russian government has described the incident as “a planned terrorist act and an assassination attempt on the president,” and threatened to retaliate when and where it considered necessary. However, Ukraine has dismissed the allegations, calling them a pretext for massive attacks on its territory. The US has also said it is treating the Russian claims with caution.

The incident raises questions about the security measures in place to protect Putin, who is widely regarded as one of the most closely guarded leaders in the world. There will also be scrutiny over the effectiveness of Russian air defenses, as anti-aircraft systems have been spotted on Moscow rooftops in recent months in response to concerns that Ukraine or its sympathisers may attempt to carry out aerial attacks on high-value targets.

It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the incident, with some officials already calling for tough action. Russian generals have warned of harsh responses to any strikes on Russian territory, but it is unclear whether Russia has the capacity to carry out meaningful retaliatory strikes or whether this incident will lead to any significant escalation on the battlefield inside Ukraine.