Putin’s New Year vow: Kyiv’s high-profile offices to be destroyed, Zelensky to surrender in January
Trump had said that it was the right decision not to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. All European countries have also stated on this issue that Russia is making false claims. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense presented evidence, claiming that Kyiv deliberately targeted the presidential residence in the Novat region in an attack.
The case surrounding the alleged attack on Putin’s residence is becoming increasingly complicated. Ukraine claims that it did not target Putin’s palace but carried out strikes on strategic military sites. A report by the US intelligence agency CIA states that there were no attacks on Putin’s palace, and this information has also been shared with Trump. However, Russia and Belarus say that Kyiv’s policy-making centers are now in their sights. The President of Belarus has issued a threat of attacks on Kyiv.
On December 30, reports emerged claiming that Ukraine had attacked the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has denied carrying out any attack on Putin’s palace. After the reports surfaced, Trump appeared to side with Russia, saying it was the right decision not to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. European countries have also stated that Russia is making false claims in this matter. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense presented evidence alleging that Kyiv deliberately targeted the presidential residence in the Novat region.
Russia says that Ukraine’s attacks are being deliberately ignored, but insists that it cannot overlook them any longer. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also threatened attacks on Kyiv. Lukashenko’s remarks clearly suggest that in 2026, Russia could strike key buildings in Kyiv. In such a scenario, Russia’s first target could be the Onyky Palace, the official residence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The second target could be the Ukrainian Presidential Office located on Bankova Street, where most major war-related decisions are made. The third potential target could be the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament building. The fourth target could be the House of Government, located near the Verkhovna Rada, where cabinet meetings are held. There are concerns that Russia could carry out ballistic missile strikes on these locations.
However, the threat in the new year is not limited to missile attacks alone. An even greater danger may be looming over Kyiv. Along with missile and drone strikes, Russia could also begin ground operations in and around Kyiv.
From Belarusian territory, Russian forces could enter Ukraine and open a new front in the war. The issue of the alleged attack on Putin’s palace had become an international headline, at which time Ukraine claimed that Russia was laying false groundwork for launching larger and more intense attacks. In the new year, developments now appear to be moving in that direction. Along with missile and drone attacks, ground operations in Kyiv are also a possibility. Russian troops are already deployed along the Belarus–Ukraine border and could launch attacks from the Belarus front.