On December 28–29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that Ukraine deployed 91 long-range drones targeting Putin’s residence west of Moscow. According to Lavrov, all drones were intercepted by Russian air defences, and no damage or casualties occurred. He labelled the alleged attack as “state terrorism” and warned that retaliatory targets had already been identified. However, Lavrov offered no evidence, and it was unclear where Putin was at the time of the alleged strike.
Kyiv strongly rejected the accusations. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of fabricating the story to justify attacks on Ukrainian government buildings and to undermine ongoing US-mediated talks on ending the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on world leaders to condemn Moscow’s claims, stating the story was a pretext to escalate hostilities.
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Global Reactions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan condemned the alleged targeting of Putin’s residence, calling it a “grave threat to peace, security, and stability” amid delicate peace efforts. In a post on X, he expressed solidarity with the Russian government and people, while reiterating Pakistan’s rejection of all forms of violence.
Former US President Donald Trump also reacted, describing the alleged strike as “not good” and saying he was “very angry” upon learning about it during a phone call with Putin. Trump called the timing of such an attack “delicate” and inappropriate, emphasizing the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and the US.
Impact on Ukraine Peace Talks
The incident coincided with intensified diplomatic efforts. Just a day earlier, Trump met with Zelenskiy in Florida, reporting progress toward a potential agreement, though complex territorial disputes remained unresolved. Putin, meanwhile, ordered Russian forces to continue operations in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region and reiterated demands for Kyiv to withdraw from remaining parts of Donbas.
The drone strike allegations have added fresh tension to an already fragile diplomatic landscape. Observers warn that such claims, whether true or fabricated, risk undermining fragile steps toward ending the conflict in Ukraine.
