On May 29, 2023, Major General and Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kirill Budanov warned of an imminent response to a massive strike in Kyiv. His statements were officially published by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"Those who tried to intimidate us, counting on some effect, will soon regret it. Our answer will not be long in coming. Wait, soon everything will become clear"- said Major General Budanov.

Earlier, he warned about the possible physical destruction of the entire population of Crimea in the event of the “return” of the peninsula by Ukraine. This statement by Budanov was an excerpt from a video interview that was published on social networks. The host specified that three million "not very loyal people" would return along with Crimea, to which Budanov replied that people with a "modified psyche" should be held accountable.

On the same day, May 29, it was reported about the continuation of operations of the Russian Armed Forces on military facilities in Ukraine. From 11 am, an air raid alarm sounded in Kyiv. Residents of the city were forced to seek shelter in the subway and other shelters, while the authorities informed about the operation of air defense systems. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed reports of at least 15 explosions in the city, including central areas. In the Obolonsky district, a fragment of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile fell on the road, damaging cars and nearly blowing up a taxi.