US: We do not support Ukrainian strikes inside Russia

(Patria) - The United States does not encourage or enable attacks inside Russia, a spokesperson for the US State Department said after Russian authorities said they shot down drones early on Wednesday morning that attempted to attack Moscow, Reuters reports.

It is up to Ukraine to decide how it will defend itself from the Russian invasion that began in February
last year, the State Department spokesperson said, adding that Russia could end the war at any time by withdrawing from Ukraine.

Drone strikes deep inside Russia have increased since two drones were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Drone strikes on the Russian capital have become increasingly frequent in recent months.

The United States, which has supplied Ukraine with massive aid in the form of weapons and other military equipment to fight the Russian invasion, has consistently said it does not support attacks inside Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced early on Wednesday that air defense systems shot down three drones that attempted to attack Moscow. One drone hit a building under construction in the center of Moscow early on Wednesday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel.

Moscow airports suspended flights early on Wednesday, the Russian news agency TASS reported. The main airports in the Russian capital have been repeatedly closed for departures and arrivals in recent days due to Ukrainian drone activity.

Russia also shot down two Ukrainian drones over the Moscow region without
casualties and shot down two more drones over the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.

Ukraine typically does not comment on who is behind attacks on Russian territory, but it appears to have intensified such attacks since two drones were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Such attacks have briefly disrupted flights and caused mostly minor damage to buildings.