Source TOI
MOSCOW — The Russian Ministry of Defense has released video footage of what it claims is a downed Ukrainian drone, part of a massive “carefully planned” aerial assault targeting one of President Vladimir Putin’s official residences.
The incident, which Moscow has labeled a “terrorist act” and a “personal attack” on the Russian president, comes at a high-stakes moment in the conflict as international diplomatic efforts to end the war intensify.
The Alleged Attack
According to Russian officials, Ukrainian forces launched a swarm of 91 long-range drones on the night of December 28–29, 2025. The primary target was reportedly Putin’s secluded lakeside residence in the Novgorod region, located between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The Russian Defense Ministry described the operation as highly sophisticated:
Method: A “mass launch” carried out in multiple stages.
Payload: Officials claim the intercepted drones were carrying six-kilogram explosive charges “packed with striking elements” intended to cause maximum casualties.
Outcome: Moscow asserts that all 91 drones were intercepted by air defenses, with no damage to the residence or injuries reported.
The released video shows a man in military camouflage standing in a snowy, forested area next to the wreckage of a dark-colored unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Russian state media identified the craft as a modified Ukrainian Chaklun-V reconnaissance drone.
Kyiv Dismisses Claims as “Fabrication”
Ukraine has categorically denied any involvement, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissing the Russian claims as a “complete fabrication.”
Kyiv and several international observers have raised skepticism regarding the lack of immediate evidence following the alleged strike. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that there has been no local reporting or open-source footage—such as smoke plumes or air defense activity—that typically accompanies large-scale Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory.
“It is a deliberate lie to hamper progress in peace talks,” President Zelenskyy stated, suggesting Moscow is using the incident as a pretext to justify its own intensified missile strikes on Ukrainian cities or to target government buildings in Kyiv.
Diplomatic Fallout
The allegations surfaced just as diplomatic channels appeared to be opening. U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently hosted Zelenskyy in Florida, reportedly discussed the claim during a phone call with Putin on December 29. While the Kremlin stated that Putin was “reconsidering” his negotiating position due to the attack, Trump remained cautious, noting that “maybe the attack didn’t take place.”
Current Status of the Conflict:
| Feature | Details |
| :— | :— |
| Alleged Target | Presidential Residence, Novgorod Oblast |
| Russian Claim | 91 Drones launched; 100% interception rate |
| Ukrainian Response | “Fake” and “pretext for escalation” |
| Diplomatic Impact | Russia threatens to “revise” peace negotiation terms |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that the “personal attack” on the president would fundamentally change Russia’s approach to upcoming peace summits.
