The founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated that employing nuclear weapons in response to a drone intrusion near the Kremlin is out of the question. His comment was conveyed through the company’s press office.
“As a radical figure, I can say outright that the use of nuclear arms in reaction to unmanned aerial devices is unacceptable. First, it is essential to identify those responsible for countering the drone threat,” he asserted.
Prigozhin added that one must consider how such an incident could occur in principle. He continued that Russia should strive to become a leading force in UAV technology development and respond with equally capable drones, emphasizing a measured approach over escalation.
“And that’s all, we resemble observers who threaten to bully a child drone,” commented the Wagner Group’s head.
The previous day, the Kremlin press service reported that two drones attempted to strike the president’s residence during the night of May 3. This event was characterized as a planned act of terrorism and an attempt on the president. It was stressed that Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory measures as it sees fit.
Drones damaged two copper plates in the Senate Palace dome, with no further damage or casualties reported.
At the time, Vladimir Putin was at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence. His schedule reportedly remained unchanged in light of the incident. Press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the president remained calm and composed throughout the situation.
“In difficult, extreme moments, the president has consistently stayed calm, clear-eyed, and decisive in his orders. There is nothing new in this regard,” Peskov stated.
Peskov suggested that Washington was directly involved behind the drone strike. He noted that strategic decisions—defining goals and their purposes—were guided by decisions made in Kyiv under U.S. direction. Moscow asserted full awareness of the situation.
Peskov added that security measures would be strengthened in response to the incident, including heightened readiness for Victory Day preparations. He stressed that the presidential residence is protected and that experts will thoroughly analyze the events to ensure proper protection.
Soon after media reports circulated, Ukrainian authorities said they had no details of the incident and were not involved. Serhiy Nikiforov, the Ukrainian presidential press secretary, stated that Kyiv had no knowledge of any so-called night attacks on the Kremlin.
“Ukraine is directing all available forces to defend its own territory, not to attack others,” Zelensky’s office said through Nikiforov, emphasizing the country’s focus on national defense rather than aggression.
Later, Zelensky asserted that Ukraine would not attack Moscow or the Russian leadership, reaffirming that the country fights on its own soil to protect its cities and villages.
The White House indicated that the United States did not encourage Ukraine to strike Russian territory. A spokesperson stressed that Washington has never supported or facilitated any such action beyond Ukrainian borders, a point reiterated by the administration’s officials.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken previously remarked that he had noted the reports but could not confirm them due to a lack of verified facts. Regarding the protection of Ukrainian territory after Kyiv faced accusations of orchestrating the Kremlin attack, that responsibility remained with Kyiv’s discretion.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed attempts to deny involvement, stating that such claims were unfounded. On May 4, he underscored that Moscow knows who was behind the events and expects accountability.
The White House later denied involvement in the incident, with a White House spokesperson noting that U.S. authorities were still reviewing what occurred and did not implicate the United States in any way.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under Article 205, the “Terrorist Act,” in connection with the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin residence. Authorities in Moscow and other regions subsequently restricted the use of drones without authorization from law enforcement and regional leadership.