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May 30, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Jack Guy, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:01 a.m. ET, May 31, 2023

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7:55 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russia says it repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. Here's what we know so far

From CNN staff

Russia has blamed Ukraine for a drone attack on Moscow early Tuesday, but Kyiv has denied any direct involvement.

State media reports said two people were injured and buildings were damaged in the Russian capital.

The attacks followed yet another Russian bombardment of Kyiv overnight.

Here's what to know:

What Russia says: Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed Ukraine was responsible for a "terrorist attack" on Moscow using drones early Tuesday. All eight unmanned aerial vehicles launched at the Russian capital were destroyed, the ministry said in a statement. Russia's Investigative Committee said air defenses shot down a number of drones as they approached the capital. "The persons involved in the crime are being identified," it said.
How bad was the damage? The Investigative Committee said several buildings sustained minor damage. Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were injured but no one was hospitalized.
How has Kyiv responded? Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that "we enjoy watching and predicting an increase in attacks," but he added that "we have nothing to do directly with it.” The reported attack on Moscow came just hours after what Ukrainian officials said was the 17th Russian aerial assault on Kyiv this month. A 33-year-old woman was killed and 13 others wounded in the Russian drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, Ukraine’s National Police said.
Has this happened before? Ukraine rarely comments directly on alleged drone attacks inside Russian territory. Earlier this month, Russia claimed Ukraine launched an attempt to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin with a drone strike on the Kremlin — an allegation that was met with forceful denials in Kyiv. According to CNN reporting, US officials picked up chatter amongst Ukrainian officials blaming each other for the May 3 drone attack on the Kremlin, contributing to a US assessment that a Ukrainian group may have been responsible, sources familiar with the intelligence said.

7:54 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Moscow airports remain open after drone attacks, Russian officials say

From CNN's Radina Gigova

Moscow airports are functioning as usual following a drone attack that damaged several buildings in the capital city and the region, Russian state news agency TASS reported Tuesday.

All airports in the capital region are operating under normal conditions as of 8:00 a.m., and air traffic control dispatchers are working within normal limits, TASS reported, citing the press service of the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has claimed that Ukraine is responsible for the drone attack against Moscow on Tuesday. Kyiv is yet to comment on the incident.

3:26 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Woman, 33, killed in Kyiv drone attacks, Ukrainian officials say

From CNN’s Olga Voitovych

A rescuer works at the area where an apartment building has been damaged during a massive Russian drone strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 30. Pablo Petrov/State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters

A 33-year-old woman was killed and 13 others were wounded in the Russian drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, Ukraine’s National Police said.

Among those injured, nine were in the city while four were hurt in the wider capital region, police said.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported earlier that its air defenses had destroyed 29 of 31 Iran-made Shahed drones launched at Kyiv by Russia.

7:55 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russian Defense Ministry blames Ukraine for Moscow drone attack

From CNN's Olga Voitovych, Clare Sebastian, Nathan Hodge and Sarah Dean

Russian law enforcement officers gather outside a multi-story apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has claimed that Ukraine is responsible for a "terrorist attack" using drones against Moscow on Tuesday.

All eight aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles launched at the Russian capital were destroyed, the ministry said in a statement.

“Three of them were suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets," the statement said. “Another five UAVs were shot down by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system in the Moscow region.”

Kyiv has not yet commented on the drone attack.

Russian state media reported earlier that two buildings were damaged in a drone attack. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an update that two people were injured but no one was hospitalized. Emergency services continue to work at the sites, he said.

3:05 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Russia says its air defenses shot down a number of drones near Moscow

From CNN's Radina Gigova

This picture shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Russian air defenses shot down a number of drones as they approached Moscow Tuesday, the country's main federal investigating authority said in a statement Tuesday.

"As a result of the fall of unmanned aerial vehicles, several buildings in Moscow have sustained minor damage. In addition, a number of unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by Russian air defense forces on their way to Moscow," the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Based on preliminary information, there were no casualties, while city emergency services and Russian Investigative Committee personnel are on the scene following the attack, it added.

"The persons involved in the crime are being identified," the Investigative Committee added.

2:44 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Ukraine says it shot down nearly 30 drones over Kyiv early Tuesday

From CNN’s Olga Voitovych

Ukrainian air defense intercepts a Shahed drone mid-air in the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, May 30. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 29 of 31 Iran-made Shahed drones launched at Kyiv by Russia early Tuesday, Ukraine’s Air Force said.

“Almost all of the drones were destroyed on the outskirts of the capital and in the Kyiv sky,” the Ukrainian Air Force said.

One person was killed in the bombardment, the 17th aerial assault launched by Russian forces at Kyiv during this month alone, authorities said earlier.

Four people were injured by shrapnel, according to Kyiv police chief Andrii Nebytov, and there were 50 reports of damage to houses, commercial properties and cars.

“The police are recording every crime of the Russian army, for which they will definitely be held accountable,” Nebytov wrote.

Earlier reports from Ukrainian officials said 20 drones were shot down overnight.

Iran sanctions: Ukraine has slapped new sanctions on Iran for a period of 50 years in response to what Kyiv sees as Tehran's role in supplying weapons to Moscow. Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv this month with Iran-manufactured Shahed drones, resulting in destruction of infrastructure and civilian deaths.

2:22 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

Moscow drone attack caused minor damage to several buildings, mayor says

From CNN’s Clare Sebastian

Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin visits the Victory Day Red Square Parade in Moscow, Russia on May 9. Stringer/Getty Images

A drone attack on Russia's capital city early Tuesday resulted in "minor damage to several buildings," but no casualties were reported, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

"All of the city's emergency services are on the scene," Sobyanin said on Telegram. "They are investigating the circumstances of what happened. No one has been seriously injured so far."

One of the damaged buildings was in the south of Moscow, and another is located southwest of the Russian capital, according to state news agency RIA.

Quoting a spokesperson for the emergency services, state news agency TASS said authorities are investigating several possibilities, including that a drone hit a building.

What looked like drone fragments were found around the building, TASS reported.

2:51 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

BREAKING: Drone attack damages buildings in Moscow, Russian state media reports

From CNN’s Clare Sebastian in London

A damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, on May 30. Lev Sergeev/Reuters

A drone attack damaged two buildings in Moscow Tuesday morning, according to Russian state media. No injuries were sustained, according to the reports.

More to follow ...

1:01 a.m. ET, May 30, 2023

How Ukrainian forces are gearing up for a fast-approaching counteroffensive

From CNN's Vasco Cotovio, Frederik Pleitgen and William Bonnett in Chernihiv, Ukraine

The loud engine announces the approach of the Soviet-era armored BTR vehicle long before it appears — racing through a grassy plain on the outskirts of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. Suddenly it stops, its door opens and Ukrainian soldiers rush out, storming the trench below.

“Today our task is training and cleaning the trenches,” a Ukrainian soldier with the call-sign Jenia says. He is a member of Kyiv’s Offensive Guard, which is part of an initiative by the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs to establish new assault brigades.

“The enemy has lost positions, we quickly arrive, take positions, and restore it,” he adds.

This operation is just a drill, but the scenario has been engineered to be as realistic as possible. The trenches are muddy — despite weeks without rain — and the soldiers are forced to face the unexpected, such as tending to and evacuating the wounded, or adapting after suffering casualties.

“Some people say training is not hard, that there is no danger — but running through the trenches and constantly training, knowing that you will go to battle, it is not easy,” Jenia says. “Everything comes with practice, It is clear that during the hostilities there will also be the psychological impact of war — but practice is very important.”

Even as Ukrainian cities experience barrage after barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes, Jenia and the other members of the Offensive Guard have remained unfazed, simulating scenarios they expect to find once Kyiv finally launches its much anticipated counteroffensive.

That day is fast approaching, if one of the top advisers to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is to be believed.

Read the full story here.