(NOVGOROD REGION, RUSSIA) – Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the residence of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in what Kyiv has described as a fabrication lacking any supporting evidence. The allegation was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a phone briefing that Moscow later circulated through official channels.
According to Lavrov, Russia claims that on the night of December 28, 2025, Ukraine launched 91 long range strike drones at a state residence linked to the Russian dictator in the Novgorod region. Russian authorities said all drones were intercepted by air defence systems and that there were no casualties or damage caused by debris.
Lavrov said the alleged incident occurred during a period of intensive negotiations between Russia and the United States over the war in Ukraine. He warned that such actions would not go unanswered and stated that Russia had already selected targets and timing for retaliatory strikes. At the same time, he said Moscow did not intend to withdraw from talks with Washington, although Russia would revise its negotiating position.
Ukraine strongly rejected the accusation, calling it a false story designed to escalate rhetoric and influence diplomatic discussions. Ukrainian officials noted that Russia provided no photographs, videos or independent verification to support the claim.
Military analysts and observers have also raised questions about the credibility of the allegation. The residence in question is reportedly protected by dense air defence systems, making a successful drone strike highly unlikely. Experts said it would be an inefficient use of Ukrainian resources to target a symbolic location with little military value, especially when Ukraine has publicly acknowledged many of its operations against strategic infrastructure.
The absence of visual evidence has drawn particular attention. Previous incidents inside Russia involving drones or explosions have frequently been recorded by civilians and shared online within minutes. In this case, no such material has appeared, despite the scale of the alleged attack involving 91 drones.
The claim has led some observers to suggest the possibility of a staged or exaggerated narrative intended for political effect rather than a confirmed military event. Russia has not released radar data, wreckage images or other technical details that would normally accompany such an incident.
The accusation comes as Russia continues its full scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that has involved extensive missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine has repeatedly said it targets military and logistical assets linked to Russia’s war effort and usually confirms such actions.
With no independent evidence presented, the alleged attack on the Russian dictator’s residence remains unverified.
