Moscow/Washington: Russia on Wednesday said it had shared what it calls proof of a Ukrainian drone attack aimed at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, escalating rhetoric around the war even as diplomatic efforts sputter.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, a senior official handed over fragments of a downed drone to a US military attaché, asserting that the components show Kyiv targeted a presidential complex in the northern Novgorod region. Moscow has accused Ukraine of launching as many as 91 long-range attack drones in the incident—an allegation Kyiv flatly rejects.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 One of the Ukrainian drones intercepted en route to Putin’s residence was armed with a 6-kg high-explosive warhead
The Russian Ministry of Defense also released a map of the attempted strike — showing drones launched from multiple directions, intercepted over the Novgorod,… pic.twitter.com/91CKXxj5aC
— The Other Side Media (@TheOtherSideRu) December 31, 2025
What Moscow Says the Evidence Shows
In a video posted on the Defence Ministry’s Telegram channel, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence, is seen presenting what he described as the drone’s navigation controller. Russian officials claim specialists decoded data from the device, concluding that the intended target was the president’s residence.
“The decryption confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian president’s residence in the Novgorod region,” Kostyukov said, adding that sharing the material with Washington should “allow for the truth to be established.”
The ministry earlier said its findings would be formally transmitted to the United States.
MOMENT MoD hands over KEY data to US representatives
‘Decryption of navigation controllers… unequivocally CONFIRMED that target of attack was Russian President’s residence in Novgorod region’
Military Intelligence Chief Igor Kostyukov transfers info to America https://t.co/XTCEc08DyD pic.twitter.com/V7xKBsxldD
— RT (@RT_com) January 1, 2026
US Media, Officials Cast Doubt
The account has been challenged in Washington. The Wall Street Journal cited senior US security officials as saying there was no evidence of a targeted strike on Putin’s residence.
US President Donald Trump initially struck a sympathetic tone after speaking with Putin, telling reporters he understood the Russian leader was “very angry” about the alleged incident. Days later, however, Trump sounded more sceptical, sharing a critical editorial that accused Moscow of stalling peace talks.
Kyiv Denies, Calls It Disinformation
Ukraine has denied any involvement, branding the accusation a disinformation move designed to strain ties between Kyiv and Washington. The denial comes after a weekend meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which Ukrainian officials say prompted Moscow to amplify claims meant to undermine diplomatic momentum.
As both sides trade allegations, the episode adds another layer of mistrust to already fragile negotiations—raising the temperature without producing independently verified proof.
