Alleged Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence Triggers Global Reactions, Ukraine Rejects Claims
A day after Russia alleged that a swarm of Ukrainian drones struck parts of Moscow and Crimea, disturbing footage began circulating online that reportedly shows repeated attacks near Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence. Another video released by the Kremlin claimed that one of the downed drones carried an explosive payload weighing around six kilograms, adding to the seriousness of the accusations.
Ahead of New Year’s Eve, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over reports of an attack targeting the Russian president’s residence. In a social media post, he urged all sides to prioritize peace and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region. Modi stated that reports of the Russian president’s residence being targeted were deeply troubling and emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective path to ending hostilities. He appealed to all concerned parties to avoid actions that could undermine peace initiatives.
Ukraine, however, dismissed both the concerns raised by world leaders and Russia’s allegations, calling Moscow’s claims baseless and unsupported by evidence. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly denied the accusations in a post on X, saying that nearly a day had passed without Russia presenting any credible proof of an alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin’s home. He asserted that no such evidence exists because no such attack ever took place. Sybiha also expressed disappointment over statements from countries including India, the UAE, and Pakistan, which voiced concern over what he described as an incident that never occurred.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of launching 91 drones toward Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, located between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. According to Russia, the drones were intercepted by air defense systems before causing damage.
Following his meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Florida, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the episode as a calculated move by Russia. He suggested that Moscow was attempting to derail peace negotiations and use the alleged incident as justification for escalating military actions against Ukraine.
France also weighed in, expressing support for Ukraine’s position. French officials stated that they had not seen any concrete evidence to substantiate the serious accusations made by Russian authorities.
As conflicting narratives continue to emerge, the incident has intensified diplomatic tensions, highlighting the fragile state of international efforts aimed at de-escalation and peace.