Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia

The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.

ByMorgan Winsor, Nadine El-Bawab, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Kevin Shalvey, Bill Hutchinson, and Patricio Chile
Last Updated: June 27, 2023, 11:02 AM EDT

More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.

For previous coverage, please click here.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
May 03, 2023, 8:31 AM EDT

Russia says Ukraine tried to kill Putin in Kremlin with 2 drones

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has accused Ukraine of trying to strike Putin's residence in the Kremlin with two drones overnight, but said they were brought down before they could reach their target.

No injuries were reported, Kremlin officials said. Putin was not at the residence at the time, they said.

PHOTO: A still image taken from video shows a flying object exploding in an intense burst of light near the dome of the Kremlin Senate building during the alleged Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow, May 3, 2023.
A still image taken from video shows a flying object exploding in an intense burst of light near the dome of the Kremlin Senate building during the alleged Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow, in this image taken from video obtained by Reuters, May 3, 2023.
Ostorozhno Novosti/via Reuters

Videos released on official social media channels appeared to show a drone strike the roof of the Senate Palace at the Kremlin.

The Kremlin said that "the Russian side reserves the right to retaliate whenever and wherever it deems necessary."

In this file photo taken on April 12, 2023 A "No Drone Zone" sign is pictured in front of the Russian national flag atop the Federation Council building, the upper chamber of Russia's parliament, in central Moscow.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Tanya Stukalova

May 03, 2023, 1:30 AM EDT

Ukrainian drone hits Russian port, causing fire

A Ukrainian drone hit a Tamanneftegaz fuel tank in the Port of Taman, Russia, at about 2:30 a.m. local time Wednesday, Kirill Fedorov, a pro-Russian blogger, said on his Telegram channel. The Port of Taman is in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait.

The fire could be seen in a video circulating online.

Local authorities confirmed the fire, which "has been assigned the highest rank," the governor of the region said. A tank with petroleum products was hit by the drone and is burning, the governor said. No injuries were reported and there was no threat to residents, he added on his Telegram channel.

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova

May 02, 2023, 11:45 PM EDT

All drones targeting Kyiv shot down; 3rd attack on capital in 6 days

All drones that were used by Russians to attack Kyiv early Wednesday morning local time were shot down by Ukrainian air defense systems, the Kyiv City Military Administration said on Telegram.

There were no reported injuries or casualties, the military administration said.

This was the third attack on Kyiv in six days, the administration added.

-ABC News' Natalya Kushnir

May 02, 2023, 6:58 PM EDT

Explosions reported in Kyiv

Explosions were reported in Kyiv around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday local time, according to Suspilne, the Ukrainian public broadcaster.

The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces were activated in response, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported.

S-300 missiles belonging to Ukrainian Armed Forces were hit in Zaporizhzhia, the spokesman of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, said on Telegram.

Reports of damage, and number of people injured or killed were not immediately available.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Max Uzol

Related Topics