Key Points and Summary – Russia claims Ukrainian forces launched 91 long-range drones toward a presidential residence near Valdai in the Novgorod region, calling it “state terrorism” and hinting it could harden Moscow’s negotiating posture.
– Ukraine rejects the allegation as a politically timed falsehood meant to disrupt fragile diplomacy following Zelenskyy’s recent talks with Trump.
Russia President Putin. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Vladimir Putin. Image Credit: Russian Government.
– Moscow released a video of an alleged downed drone, but outside parties say it cannot be independently verified.
– U.S. intelligence reportedly briefed Trump that there’s no credible evidence that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence. The dispute lands amid expanding Ukrainian deep-strike drone operations against Russian infrastructure.
Did Ukraine Really Try to Drone Attack Putin’s Home?
Russia’s recent allegation that Ukrainian forces attempted a drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences in the Novgorod region has been met with skepticism from Kyiv, U.S. intelligence, and several Western governments, as peace negotiations remain fragile.
What Russia Is Saying
On December 29, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that 91 long-range drones were launched from Ukrainian territory toward a presidential residence near Valdai and were intercepted by Russian air defenses with no casualties or damage.
Lavrov labeled the incident “state terrorism” and hinted that Moscow might reassess its negotiating stance as a result.
What Ukraine Is Saying
Ukraine’s government has rejected the accusation, however.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized Russia’s claims as “typical lies” intended to derail diplomatic progress following his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December.
The two leaders discussed a 20-point peace framework. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Russia’s recent claims, stating that Russia has provided no credible evidence to support them.
What Others Are Saying About the Drone Strike
Russia’s defense ministry later published a video that reportedly showed a downed Ukrainian drone near the Novgorod residence, claiming it also contained a bomb and was part of the alleged attack.
Vladimir Putin at the opening ceremony of an international military-technical forum.
Reuters reported that the footage and drone identification, however, could not be independently verified.
What the CIA Is Saying
U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, have publicly dismissed the Kremlin’s narrative despite the video footage. U.S. officials and intelligence assessments concluded that there was no credible evidence that the Ukrainians targeted Putin’s residence.
Those officials also determined that any Ukrainian operation that occurred was not directed at the presidential residences. The CIA’s assessment was reportedly briefed to Trump.
European capitals have also largely rejected Moscow’s claims, with many analysts arguing that Russian leadership is likely attempting to shape international opinion and influence the U.S. president. Initially, Trump appeared to accept Putin’s account before acknowledging that the story may not be entirely true.
The Ukraine Drone War
The news comes as Ukrainian drone operations become more commonplace deep inside Russian territory. The high-profile Operation Spiderweb in June 2025 was arguably the first instance of Ukrainian drones targeting high-value sites deep within Russia.
Since the summer, Ukraine has launched dozens of attacks on Russian energy sites, with drones reaching as far as 2,000 km into Russian territory, targeting everything from storage depots to terminals and refineries.