Washington is encouraging Kyiv by publicly ignoring a drone attack that hit several districts of Moscow on Tuesday, Russia’s ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday, after President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for the airstrikes, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The White House said it did not support attacks inside Russia and was still gathering information about the incident, which Putin said was an attempt to scare and provoke Moscow.

“What are these attempts to hide behind the phrase that they are +collecting information?” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in a comment published on the Telegram channel.

“This is an encouragement to Ukrainian terrorists,” he added.

• A terrorist attack in Moscow could be a “turning point” for the end of Putin’s rule

Putin on Tuesday called the attack, which moved the 15-month-old war from Ukraine into the heart of Russia, an act of terrorism. Ukraine also accuses Russia of terrorism because of the bombing of civilians in Ukraine, a charge Moscow rejects.

An adviser to the president of Ukraine denied Kiev’s direct involvement in the drone attack on Moscow, but said that Ukraine is happy with the events and predicts more, Reuters notes.

The attack in Moscow, which injured two people, comes after Russia carried out three airstrikes in one day on Kiev and 17 so far in May, killing two people this month and sowing destruction and fear.

Russia has long accused what it calls the “collective West” of waging a proxy war against Moscow, supporting Ukraine with military and financial aid.

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ravaging cities, forcing millions from their homes, and claiming thousands of lives.

Moscow calls the war a “special military operation” to “denazify” Ukraine and protect Russian speakers. Kyiv and its allies claim that this is an unprovoked seizure of territories, reminds Reuters, which is quoted by Agerpres.

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