- Russian officials claim Ukraine launched a massive drone attack targeting Putin’s helicopter during his rare visit to the contested Kursk region, calling it an unprecedented assassination attempt.
- A Russian air defense commander reported destroying 46 Ukrainian drones while defending Putin’s aircraft, suggesting Kyiv had prior intelligence about his secretive trip.
- Putin’s visit included the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, which Russia alleges has also been targeted by Ukrainian sabotage attempts, raising nuclear security concerns.
- The incident coincides with intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including a record-breaking May 25 attack involving hundreds of drones and missiles.
- U.S. President Trump condemned Putin’s actions, warning that further aggression could lead to Russia’s downfall, while the Kremlin may use the attack to justify escalation.
Ukraine allegedly launched a massive drone attack targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s helicopter during his rare visit to the contested Kursk region on May 20, according to Russian military officials. The audacious strike, if confirmed, marks one of the most direct assassination attempts against the Russian leader since the war began, raising alarming questions about Kyiv’s intelligence capabilities and the escalating risks of a broader conflict.
Major-General Yuri Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defense division, revealed that 46 Ukrainian military drones were destroyed while defending Putin’s aircraft during what he called an "unprecedented attack." The timing suggests Ukraine had prior knowledge of Putin’s secretive trip, which was only announced after he had left the region. Putin rarely visits active war zones, making this alleged strike a bold and calculated escalation.
Putin’s helicopter in the crosshairs
Dashkin stated, "During the period when the President [Putin] was working in the Kursk region, the enemy launched an unprecedented attack with unmanned aerial vehicles." He added that Russian forces simultaneously engaged in an air battle while securing the safety of Putin’s helicopter, which was "virtually at the epicenter of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy’s drones."
The Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, has been a flashpoint since Kyiv’s forces staged a surprise incursion in August 2024, seizing small pockets of territory. Putin’s unannounced visit included a tour of the under-construction Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, a strategic facility that Russian officials claim has also been targeted by Ukrainian sabotage attempts.
A rare war zone appearance
Unlike Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who frequently visits front-line troops, Putin has largely avoided active combat zones, relying on staged meetings and tightly controlled public appearances. His presence in Kursk, amid reports of local discontent over displacement caused by the war, hints at Moscow’s growing unease over Ukraine’s cross-border raids.
The alleged drone strike coincides with a surge in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including a record-breaking May 25 assault involving 298 drones and 69 missiles. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the Kursk incident, but Zelensky has previously asserted Ukraine’s right to target Putin if it serves national defense."
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump condemned Putin’s aggression, writing on Truth Social: "I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin… but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!" Trump warned that seizing all of Ukraine would lead to Russia’s "downfall."
The Kremlin’s admission of the drone attack despite rarely publicizing threats to Putin suggests Moscow may use the incident to justify further escalation. Russian state media framed the incident as a Ukrainian provocation, while independent verification remains elusive.
With Ukraine insisting its operations in Kursk continue and Russia retaliating with massive strikes, the conflict edges closer to a dangerous tipping point. The targeting of a nuclear power plant and a head of state’s aircraft underscores the potential for catastrophic miscalculation.
The alleged assassination attempt on Putin, whether a tactical strike or a symbolic provocation, exposes the volatile nature of this war. As both sides push boundaries, will unchecked aggression trigger a wider conflict?
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