Russian officials have announced that their air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed a massive drone swarm allegedly launched by Ukraine at President Putin’s residence. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov provided details of what Moscow describes as a coordinated Ukrainian attack involving 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.
The alleged incident occurred over two consecutive days at the end of December, with drones targeting Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region. Lavrov characterized the operation as state terrorism and warned that Russia would implement retaliatory measures. He confirmed that military planners had already identified specific targets for strikes but did not provide additional details about timing or locations.
President Zelensky categorically denied Ukrainian involvement, labeling Russian claims as manufactured propaganda. He suggested that Moscow was creating a false narrative to justify planned attacks on government buildings in Kyiv while simultaneously undermining diplomatic momentum with international partners. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s military operations remain defensive in nature and supportive of peace initiatives.
According to Lavrov’s account, Russian air defense networks eliminated every drone before any could reach the presidential compound. Despite this claimed success, he maintained that the attack attempt itself represented a serious escalation warranting forceful response. The Foreign Minister indicated that the incident would necessarily influence Moscow’s approach to ongoing peace negotiations.
The controversy has introduced new obstacles to diplomatic efforts occurring during a sensitive period. Zelensky warned that Russian accusations threatened to derail progress made in coordination with Trump administration representatives. He appealed to world leaders to recognize and counter Russian disinformation tactics, arguing that Moscow consistently employs false narratives to disrupt peace processes. The Ukrainian president highlighted Russia’s history of attacking Ukrainian government infrastructure as evidence of a pattern where Moscow accuses others of actions it regularly commits itself.