**Kremlin Accused of Fabricating Story About Putin’s Helicopter Being Attacked by Ukrainian Drones**
The Kremlin has been accused of fabricating a story about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s helicopter being attacked by Ukrainian drones in the Kursk Oblast region. According to sources, Russia’s Defense Ministry spread the story to state media to make Putin appear more involved in the war effort and garner support for him.
On May 20, a Russian military commander claimed that Putin’s helicopter was subject to a Ukrainian drone attack while the president visited the Kursk Oblast region for the first time since Moscow claimed its recapture. The commander, Yury Dashkin, said that the helicopter was “at the epicenter of the response” to the alleged attack.
However, multiple sources within the Kremlin told the Moscow Times that this story was fabricated as a way to make Putin appear more closely involved in the fighting and garner support for him. Despite these claims, Putin’s visit to Kursk Oblast was conducted in secrecy, with Russian-state media reporting on the trip after it had concluded.
The motivation behind the staging of this story is reportedly to make Putin seem like he “shares the danger” of the war, as one government official put it. This comes as Kyiv has ramped up its attack on Moscow, launching hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones towards the Russian capital.
**Background: Ukraine’s Drones Cause Disruptions in Russia**
Ukrainian drones have forced at least 218 temporary airport closures across Russia since January 1, according to data from Russia’s state aviation agency Rosaviatsia. These attacks have caused significant disruptions to commuter air traffic and demonstrate Kyiv’s continued military efforts against Moscow.
**The Context: Russia’s Response to Ukrainian Incursions**
Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. This operation aimed to disrupt a planned Russian offensive on the neighboring Sumy Oblast and draw Russian forces away from the embattled Donetsk Oblast.
The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the Moscow Times’ reporting or claims made about the alleged attack, but this incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
