Kamikaze drone explodes in fireball close to Putin’s Ukraine war command HQ

A huge kamikaze drone has exploded close to Vladimir Putin’s war command in Rostov-on-Don.

Footage shows a giant fireball erupting in the city, home to the headquarters of the southern military district command which plays a key role in the invasion.

It was one of the sites seized by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin during his ultimately aborted mutiny back in June.

Footage shows a giant fireball erupting after the blast, while a strong fire also broke out in the vicinity of the base.

The Ddone flew to within 150m of the southern military district HQ in Rostov-on-Don (Picture: Twitter)

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia- during an armed revolt against Russia’s military leadership (Picture: AP)

Regional governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram that one person was injured and at least three buildings and several cars were damaged.

He claimed Russian air defences shot down two Ukrainian drones targeting the city while a third fell ‘in the centre’ – although it is unclear whether one got through.

Putin used the war command post in Rostov as a backdrop for his New Year message to Russians in 2023, posing with troops.

In all, at least seven kamikaze drones attacked Russia during the night. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses as he delivers a New Year’s address to the nation at the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

One hit Ramenskoye near Moscow – allegedly a Ukrainian Beaver drone capable of flying up to 620 miles. It is close to Zhukovsky international airport.

The Russian authorities similarly claimed they had shot it down, causing damage to a high rise residential building. 

The attack triggered the closure of air space in Moscow, causing major flight disruption at the city’s four international airports. 

Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said: ‘Tonight in the Ramenskoye urban district, air defence forces thwarted an attempted drone attack on Moscow.’

The railway station in Bryansk – capital of a region bordering Ukraine – was also damaged by a drone attack.

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Footage shows a giant fireball erupting in Rostov-on-Don, home to the headquarters of the southern military district command.