Russia has accused Ukraine of a “massive” drone strike that hit a luxury apartment block in the city, about 1,000 km (620 miles) from the border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by promising retaliatory measures Ukrainian drones Residential buildings were hit in the city of Kazan in Russia’s Tatarstan region.
Putin made the comments via video link on Sunday as he addressed Tatarstan’s local leader at a road-opening ceremony.
“Whoever and no matter how hard they try to destroy, they themselves will suffer much more destruction and will regret what they want to do in our country,” Putin said.
On Saturday morning, six Ukrainian drones struck residential buildings in Kazan and a seventh struck an industrial facility. No injuries were officially reported as a result of the attack, but according to media reports, three people suffered cuts from shattered window glass.
Videos on Russian social media networks showed drones hitting a glass skyscraper and unleashing fireballs, although no casualties were reported as a result of the attack.
Kazan is more than 1,000 km (600 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack, it is believed to be in response to a Russian missile attack on Kiev.
In response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, Putin had previously threatened to attack the center of Kiev with a hypersonic missile.
Putin’s threat comes as Russia has claimed new advances on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine.
The Defense Ministry said on Telegram that its troops had “liberated” the villages of Lozova in the northeastern Kharkiv region and Krasnoye – called Sontsivka in Ukraine.
The latter is close to the Kurakhove resource center, which Russia has all but encircled, and would be a key factor in Moscow’s attempt to conquer the entire Donetsk region.
Russia has accelerated its advance in eastern Ukraine in recent months, seeking to secure as much territory as possible before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump comes to power in January.
The Republican has vowed to quickly end the nearly three-year conflict without proposing specific terms for a ceasefire or peace deal.
Moscow’s army claims to have captured more than 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, with Kiev struggling to hold the line amid manpower and ammunition shortages.
