Russia was rocked yesterday by a 9/11-style attack on a skyscraper in the city of Kazan, after Ukraine launched long-range drones into enemy territory 600 miles from the front line.
Dramatic footage shows the deadly weapon, believed to be a Liutyi or long-range ‘Fierce’ drone with a 50kg warhead, crashing into the upper floors of the city’s tallest building, the 121m Lazurnyye Nebesa tower, and exploding in a ball of fire.
Authorities in the republic of Tatarstan said fires broke out in three districts of the capital of the oil-rich region, located 620 miles from the border with Ukraine, following attacks 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 canceled over the weekend.
The press service of Tatarstan Governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported that eight drones attacked the city.
Six hit residential buildings, one hit an industrial facility and one was knocked over a river, according to the statement.
Dramatic footage shows the deadly weapon, believed to be a long-range Liutyi or ‘Fierce’ drone with a 50kg warhead, crashing into the upper floors of the city’s tallest building.
It crashed into the side of the 121m Lazurnyye Nebesa tower and exploded in 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 proven effective in a series of successful attacks against Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, helicopter bases and other strategic facilities.
Authorities in the republic of Tatarstan said fires broke out in three districts of the capital of the oil-rich region.
The press service of Tatarstan Governor Rustam Minnikhanov reported that eight drones attacked the city.
The Liutyi drone, which has a range of 625 miles, has proven itself in a series of successful attacks against 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 is located about 440 miles east of Moscow. Despite being deep in the heart of Russia, this is not the first time the region has been attacked.
In April, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil facility and a drone factory in Nizhnekamsk and Yelabuga, two other cities in Tatarstan that are more than 100 miles east of Kazan.
In line 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 BRIC leaders.