Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Attempting To Attack Putin's Residence By 91 Long-Range Drones

Moscow: Amidst efforts to seal a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made sensational allegations claiming that Ukraine attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in Northern Russia's Novgorod region. Describing the action as an act of state terrorism, Russia has vowed that the attempt to attack the President won't go unanswered. The alleged attack, which involved 91 drones, was thwarted by Russian air defence systems, Lavrov said. 

The Russian Foreign Minister alleged that Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack targeting the presidential residence in the Novgorod region, which was intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defences. However, Ukraine has denied the accusation, calling it a complete fabrication, alleging that the false claims were aimed at justifying further Russian strikes and hampering peace efforts.

The shocking claims came as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, with both sides trading accusations and engaging in military operations. The incident is likely to impact Moscow's stance in any future negotiations with Kyiv, with Lavrov saying that targets for retaliatory strikes have already been determined. The development has also prompted a reassessment of Moscow's negotiating position, although Russia has stated it will not withdraw from ongoing talks related to a possible peace deal with Ukraine.

Ukraine Allegedly Launched 91 Long-Range Drones

According to Lavrov, the attack on Putin's residence involved 91 long-range drones, all of which were destroyed by Russian air defence systems, resulting in no casualties or material damage. The incident occurred on December 28-29, and it's unclear if Putin was in the residence at the time. 

Lavrov has warned that Russia will not tolerate such attacks and will respond accordingly. "Such reckless actions will not go unanswered," he said, adding that targets for retaliatory strikes have already been selected. The Russian foreign minister also said that the incident would impact Moscow's negotiating position, suggesting that Russia's stance on Ukraine may harden.

Zelenskyy suggested that Moscow is preparing to strike government buildings in Kyiv, and that the allegations are a pretext for further escalation. The incident comes amidst ongoing fighting on the ground, with Putin instructing Russian forces to intensify their campaign to seize full control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region in the south. 

Ukraine Calls Allegations ‘Lies’, Trump Calls Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the accusation as "another round of lies", accusing Moscow of attempting to sabotage diplomatic progress and create a pretext for new attacks on Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated that Russia was "preparing ground to strike Ukrainian governmental buildings" and urged US President Donald Trump to respond to the Russian threats.

Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that Trump had a call with Putin regarding the war in Ukraine, for the second time in 24 hours, although details of the conversation were not provided. Trump had previously met with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, where they discussed peace talks, with Zelenskyy stating that the plan was 90% agreed upon.

The incident has not halted military operations, with Putin instructing Russian forces to intensify their campaign to seize full control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. A Russian military commander reported that Moscow's troops were around 15 km from Zaporizhzhia city, the region's largest urban centre.