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Ramzan Kadyrov also sought to pin responsibility on Ukraine (Image: NC)
Spectacular video footage has shown the moment a drone strike triggers a massive drone explosion in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic.
And the attack has triggered a furious response from Ramzan Kadyrov, the region’s leader, who sought to blame Ukraine - and swore to exact revenge.
Footage circulating on the Telegram messaging app appears to show the moment of the blast, as well as emergency services personnel including five ambulances rushing to the scene.
Kadyrov, also posting on Telegram, said the target, which was hit just before 1am local time, had been the barracks of a special police regiment named after his father Akhmad, former Chief Mufti of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
Kadyrov Snr, who subsequently became a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and himself became President of the Chechen Republic, was assassinated by Chechen Islamists in 2004.
Russia: Military base hit by drone attack in Grozny
His son, without providing evidence, wrote: "No one was seriously injured. Four guards received minor injuries.
"The personnel on duty at that time were in premises protected from such attacks.
"The UAV that detonated in the air damaged the roof and knocked out windows. The fallen fragments caused a small fire, which was quickly extinguished.”
Kadyrov insisted that the building "did not sustain any serious damage”.
Emergency services personnel on the scene after the explosion (Image: NC)
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Again without providing evidence to back up his claims, Kadyrov continued: "I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ukrainian Nazi command loudly reports to its Western masters about the colossal results of a grandiose special operation. This is the only point of such a pathetic action.
"As for fighting spirit, such attempts only strengthen our faith in victory and the desire to quickly deal with the enemy.”
He further claimed he had aa reserve of 84,000 thousand volunteers and fighters "ready to move to the front lines at the first order”.
Kadyrov ranted: "We do not protect our republic in order to allow some drug addicts, shaitans or satanists to implement their sick ideas.
Ramzan Kadyrov is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
"We won't leave it like this. And for just these four wounded we will lay down 400 Ukrainian NATO soldiers.”
The first reported drone attack struck Chechnya on October 29.
On that occasion, having initially insisted there had been no casualties, Kadyrov claimed Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) being used as human shields had been killed.
Kadyrov likewise sought to blamed the drone attack on Ukraine, although, speaking to the Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian intelligence source said the attack likely came from the neighbouring republics of Dagestan or Ingushetia.
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