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

The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.

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.

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US calls Kremlin drone accusation 'ludicrous'

Responding to Russia's accusation that the U.S. was behind Wednesday's drone attack on the Kremlin, White House spokesperson John Kirby said it was a "ludicrous claim."

"There's a word that comes to mind that I'm obviously not -- not appropriate to using on national TV," Kirby said on CNN on Thursday.

"I will just tell you Mr. Peskov is lying, and I mean, that's obviously, it's a ludicrous claim," he added. "The United States had nothing to do with this. We don't even know exactly what happened here, Kaitlin. But I can assure you, the United States had no role in it whatsoever."

Kirby said the U.S. does not have any information on who is behind the strike but are "trying to learn more about this as best we can."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez


Kremlin blames US for drone attack in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman accused the United States of being involved in the drone attack on the Kremlin on Wednesday.

"We understand well that the decision about such terror attacks are taken not in Kyiv, but in Washington," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing. "Often targets are determined not in Kyiv but in Washington. They don't Kyiv the right everytime in choosing the means. In Washington they also clearly understand that we know that."

He added, "Without question. Such decisions -- the determining of targets and means -- are all dictated to Kyiv from Washington."

Peskov said it was important that Washington understand the "danger" of such involvement in an attack.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell


Russia attacks Kyiv with drones and missiles; no casualties or injuries reported

Russian forces launched a "complex air strike" with "drones and missiles" on Kyiv early Thursday morning, the Kyiv City Military Administration said on Telegram.

The air raid siren went off in Kyiv for three and a half hours during the attack, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.

There were no casualties or injuries from the strikes.

"According to preliminary information, all the missiles and UAVs were destroyed," the Kyiv City Military Administration added.

This was the third attack on the capitol in four days, the administration said.

-ABC News' Natalia Kushniir


US Embassy in Ukraine warns of 'ongoing heightened threat of missile attacks'

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine sent an alert to Americans on Wednesday warning of an "ongoing heightened threat of missile attacks," including in Kyiv.

"In light of the recent uptick in strikes across Ukraine and inflammatory rhetoric from Moscow, the Department of State cautions U.S. citizens of an ongoing heightened threat of missile attacks, including in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast," the alert stated.

The U.S. Embassy urged U.S. citizens to follow guidance from local authorities and to observe air alarms and shelter appropriately.


Ukraine says it's 'ready' for counteroffensive

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Friday the military is "ready" to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

"It's up to the general staff and the command," Reznikov said during a press briefing in Kyiv. "We will do it as soon as there is God's will, the weather and the commanders' decision."

Ukraine has received Patriot missile defense systems from the United States as well as Germany and the Netherlands. The Ukrainian military has been trained on how to use the systems and "mastered" them within weeks, according to Reznikov.

"The exact number of batteries, I'm sorry, I won't say," he added. "Let the enemy guess."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the world not to consider or call the anticipated counteroffensive "a decisive battle." Speaking at a press conference in Odesa on Friday, Kuleba said the decisive battle is the one that will lead to the liberation of all occupied Ukrainian territories.

-ABC News’ Will Gretsky