News Desk
MOSCOW: Russia has accused Ukraine of launching an attack on President Vladimir Putin’s official residence, a claim firmly denied by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Russian news agencies, Moscow alleged that Ukrainian forces targeted the Russian president’s residence located in the Novgorod region.
It was not confirmed whether Putin was present at the residence at the time of the alleged attack. Following the incident, Russia said it was reviewing its approach to ongoing peace talks with Ukraine. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that Ukraine attempted to strike the president’s residence using long-range drones.
Lavrov said that between 28 and 29 December, Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at the site, all of which were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defences. He described the alleged attack as an act of “state terrorism” and warned that Ukraine’s actions would not go unanswered.
The Russian foreign minister said the incident occurred during a sensitive phase of potential peace negotiations, adding that Moscow would reassess its position on talks but would not withdraw from the process entirely. Ukraine has strongly rejected the accusations. President Zelenskyy called the claims false, accusing Moscow of deliberately undermining prospects for peace.
He said Russia was seeking to justify further attacks on Ukrainian government buildings and urged the United States to respond to what he described as Russian threats and escalation. The competing claims come amid heightened tensions and uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to end the war, with both sides accusing each other of sabotaging dialogue.
