Kyiv launched a significant drone attack on the Russian city of Kazan, located 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Ukrainian border, on Saturday. This incident marks the latest in a series of intensifying aerial assaults during the nearly three-year conflict.
Local officials reported that the drone impacted a high-rise apartment building in the city, which has a population of over 1.3 million. Fortunately, there were no casualties, although the skyscraper did sustain damage.
While attacks on Russian territory have been infrequent, Kazan and the oil-rich region of Tatarstan have previously faced similar drone incursions from Ukraine. Such strikes are viewed as a significant embarrassment for Russia as it approaches the third anniversary of its military campaign in Ukraine.
Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Tatarstan, confirmed the incident via Telegram, stating that Kazan experienced a substantial drone assault. He noted the shift in tactics: “While before industrial enterprises were attacked, now the enemy attacks civilians in the morning.”
Videos circulating on Russian social media depicted the drones striking a high-rise building and igniting fireballs. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, specified that two drones struck a 37-storey apartment block but claimed that an intended industrial target was ultimately unharmed.
