Russia was rocked by a 9/11-style attack on a skyscraper in the city of Kazan yesterday after Ukraine launched long-range drones into enemy territory 600 miles from the frontline.
Dramatic pictures show the deadly weapon – thought to be a long-range Liutyi or ‘Fierce’ drone with a 50 kg warhead – smashing into the upper floors of the city’s tallest building, the 121m Lazurnyye Nebesa tower, and exploding into a fireball.
Authorities in the republic of Tatarstan said there were fires in three districts of the oil-rich region’s capital, which is located 620 miles from the border with Ukraine, following strikes on residential buildings.
No casualties were immediately reported but Kazan airport was closed as a precaution but later reopened, according to Russia’s aviation agency. All mass gatherings in the city have been cancelled for the weekend.
The press service of Tatarstan’s governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that eight drones attacked the city.
Six hit residential buildings, one hit an industrial facility and one was shot down over a river, the statement said.
Dramatic pictures show the deadly weapon – thought to be a long-range Liutyi or ‘Fierce’ drone with a 50 kg warhead – smashing into the upper floors of the city’s tallest building
It smashed into the side of the 121m Lazurnyye Nebesa tower, and exploding into a fireball
No casualties were immediately reported but Kazan airport was closed as a precaution but later reopened, according to Russia’s aviation agency
The Liutyi drone, which has a range of 625 miles, has proved its effectiveness in a series of successful attacks on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, helicopter bases and other strategic facilities
Authorities in the republic of Tatarstan said there were fires in three districts of the oil-rich region’s capital
The press service of Tatarstan’s governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that eight drones attacked the city
The Liutyi drone, which has a range of 625 miles, has proved its effectiveness in a series of successful attacks on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, helicopter bases and other strategic facilities in Sochi, Adler, St. Petersburg, Novolipetsk, Ryazan and Nizhniy Novgorod.
Kazan is home to 1.3 million people and situated some 440 miles east of Moscow. Despite being deep inside Russia’s heartland, it is not the first time the region has been targeted.
In April, Ukrainian drones hit an oil facility and drone factory at Nizhnekamsk and Yelabuga, two other Tatarstan towns that are more than 100 miles east of Kazan.
In keeping with its security policy, Ukraine did not comment on yesterday’s attacks.
Earlier this year, Vladimir Putin used the city of Kazan to host a summit of BRICs leaders.
