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Russian firebrand leaders called for martial law after drone attacks reportedly struck Moscow.
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But the Kremlin said it hasn’t even discussed such a measure, and has no plans to do so.
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Imposing martial law is a “prerogative of the highest federal power,” a spokesperson reminded the press.
Russia is dismissing calls to impose martial law after a series of drone attacks reportedly struck Moscow this week.
The Kremlin hasn’t even discussed imposing such measures after the attack, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s office, told state news agency RIA Novosti.
“This is entirely the prerogative of the highest federal power, no decisions have been made on that account, and no discussions are being held on this matter,” Peskov said.
He was responding to comments by Chechen warlord and Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, who advocated for martial law across Russia in a Telegram post on Tuesday.
Kadyrov, known for issuing blistering, aggressive statements, decried Kyiv’s leadership as “Nazis” and “Satanists,” blaming them for the drone attacks.
He said it was “necessary” to declare martial law in Russia, and wanted to muster the entire country’s war resources to “sweep away this terrorist cell at once.”
Putin and the Kremlin have similarly said Ukraine was responsible for the drone attacks, though Kyiv has denied involvement.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the vocal leader of the Russian paramilitary force Wagner Group, told Siberian journalists on Wednesday that he agreed with Kadyrov.
“The country must be put on martial law,” Prigozhin said in a visit to Novosibirsk, per Sibkray News. He also called for a second mobilization in Russia to bolster Moscow’s forces in Ukraine.
Their calls for martial law also come as pro-Ukraine militias in Russia claimed to be raiding checkpoints and harassing the Kremlin’s troops in Belgorod, the region closest to the border with Ukraine. The two groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion and Russian Volunteer Corps, have been listed as terrorist organizations by Moscow.
On Tuesday, Russia’s defense ministry said at least eight drone attacks had been launched at Moscow, resulting in minor damage to some residential neighborhoods. One of Putin’s main residences, situated in Novo-Ogaryovo, was near the crash site of one of the drones, per information released by Russia.
In his Telegram post, Kadyrov swore revenge on Ukraine for the incursions and drone attacks, but said he “won’t reveal the details” of what he has planned.
The US said on Tuesday that it does not support attacks inside of Russia. “We have been focused on providing Ukraine with the equipment and training they need to retake their own sovereign territory,” said a State Department spokesperson.
Representatives for the Russian government did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment sent outside regular business hours.
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