Capitals of both Russia and Ukraine under attack

Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking Moscow, Kyiv denies

Russia says all eight Ukrainian drones were shot down in an attack on Moscow on May 30, but Kyiv denies involvement.

The RIA Novosti news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that the Ukrainian military used eight UAVs in the attack that took place at dawn. Three UAVs were suppressed by Russian electronic warfare forces, causing them to lose control and deviate from their intended target. The remaining five UAVs were shot down by Russia in the Moscow region using Pantsir-S gun and missile systems.

Chiến sự tối 30.5: Thủ đô của cả Nga và Ukraine đều bị tấn công - Ảnh 1. — Law enforcement at the scene of a drone attack in Moscow on May 30.

According to RIA, the drones damaged several houses along Leninsky and Profsoyuznaya streets in the southwestern part of the Russian capital. Another drone crashed into a building on Atlasova Street in the New Moscow area. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attack injured two people.

The southwestern Moscow region is home to some of Russia's top elite, including President Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters. The leader was working in the Kremlin when the attack occurred and was informed about the incident, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The Russian Defense Ministry described the attack as a terrorist attack orchestrated by the Ukrainian government. But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, denied direct involvement from Kyiv, although he said Ukraine wanted to see such a scene and expected more such attacks.

Kyiv has denied organizing the attack on the Kremlin in early May. However, The New York Times later revealed that US intelligence officials believe Ukraine was involved.

Kyiv under attack again

Earlier on May 30, Ukraine said it had destroyed more than 20 Russian drones in a pre-dawn attack on Kyiv. This was the third attack in 24 hours on the Ukrainian capital, killing at least one person, according to Reuters.

"The attack was massive, coming from different directions, in several waves," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military , said on Telegram.

It was the second deadly attack in the Ukrainian capital in May and the 17th since the start of the month. Preliminary information suggests that the May 30 attack involved only Iranian-made Shahed drones, according to officials in Kyiv.

It was not immediately clear how many UAVs Russia launched and there was no immediate comment from Moscow on the attack.

Ukrainian President Calls on South Korea to Provide Defense Systems

Ukraine “very much hopes” that South Korea will provide equipment such as air defense systems to counter Russian attacks, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo daily, Mr. Zelensky expressed gratitude for South Korea’s commitment to sending mine-clearing equipment and humanitarian aid to Kyiv worth about $230 million. But he said Ukraine wanted South Korea’s air defense and early warning systems.

"I know there are many restrictions regarding arms assistance, but those principles should not apply to defense systems and equipment to protect our assets," the newspaper quoted Mr. Zelensky in a May 30 report.

"Air defense systems are not weapons but purely defensive equipment. We must have a sky shield to rebuild Ukraine and I very much hope that South Korea will support us in this area," the leader said.

As a US ally and major arms exporter, South Korea has so far rejected the possibility of providing lethal aid to Ukraine, citing economic ties with Russia and Moscow's influence over North Korea, despite pressure from Washington and Europe.

But in an interview with Reuters in April, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol signaled a possible change, saying Seoul might find it difficult to continue providing only humanitarian and financial assistance if Ukraine faced a large-scale attack on civilians or a "situation that the international community cannot tolerate."

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