MOSCOW: Russia’s defence ministry on Wednesday released a video of a downed drone that it said was launched by Ukraine at President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwest Russia, a claim Kyiv has strongly denied, calling it a “lie” and a “fabrication”.
The allegation emerged shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday.
Ukrainian officials said the claim was intended to “manipulate” and undermine ongoing peace efforts. The European Union also said the video appeared aimed at “derailing” diplomacy.
Russia calls it ‘terrorist attack’
Moscow described the alleged drone attack as a “terrorist attack” and a “personal attack” against Putin, warning it would harden Russia’s position in negotiations related to the Ukraine war.
The defence ministry said the attack took place on the night of December 28–29 at Putin’s residence in Russia’s Novgorod region.
It said the drone launch began around 7:00pm on December 28 and involved a “mass” deployment of drones, but added that no damage was caused to the residence.
Russian authorities did not disclose where Putin was at the time. The locations of his residences are usually kept secret.
Video and witness claims
The video, shot at night, showed a damaged drone lying in snow in a forested area. The ministry said the operation was “targeted, carefully planned and carried out in stages”.
A separate video released by the ministry showed a man described as a local villager from the settlement of Roshchino, whom officials presented as a witness.
Ukraine, EU reject allegation
Ukraine dismissed the allegations. Kyiv said the allegation was a “fabrication” designed to influence international opinion and disrupt peace efforts.
The European Union said the video was being used to “derail” attempts to resolve the conflict diplomatically.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said it had seen no evidence supporting Russia’s claim.
The think tank said on Tuesday it had not observed “footage or reporting that typically follows Ukrainian deep strikes” to corroborate the Kremlin’s assertion that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence in Novgorod Oblast.
