Russia Claims Ukraine Launched Drone Attack on Putin’s Novgorod Residence
By NRI Globe News Desk December 30, 2025
Moscow has accused Kyiv of attempting a major drone assault on one of President Vladimir Putin’s official residences in Russia’s northwestern Novgorod region, an allegation sharply denied by Ukraine as a fabrication aimed at sabotaging ongoing peace negotiations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on December 29 that Ukraine deployed 91 long-range drones targeting the presidential state residence—widely believed to be the fortified Valdai complex on Lake Valdai—overnight between December 28 and 29. According to Lavrov, Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed all the drones, resulting in no damage or injuries. He described the alleged incident as “state terrorism” and warned that Moscow would revise its negotiating position in U.S.-brokered peace talks while reserving the right to retaliate.
The claim emerged just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where both sides reported progress on security guarantees and other issues, though territorial disputes remain unresolved. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin informed Trump of the alleged attack during a phone call on December 29, reportedly leaving the U.S. president “shocked” and “outraged.” Trump later told reporters he was “very angry” about the report but noted U.S. intelligence had not yet confirmed it.
Zelenskyy swiftly rejected the Russian accusations as “lies” and a deliberate ploy to justify potential strikes on Ukrainian government buildings in Kyiv and to undermine diplomatic momentum. “This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that Ukraine only targets legitimate military sites.
No independent evidence, such as imagery or debris, has emerged to support Russia’s claims, and discrepancies exist between Lavrov’s figure of 91 drones and the Russian Defense Ministry’s earlier report of downing fewer UAVs nationwide, including only 18-41 over Novgorod.
In response to the escalating rhetoric, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the reports, urging all parties to exercise restraint. “Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace,” Modi posted on X. “We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them.”
The dispute comes amid fragile U.S.-led negotiations to end the nearly four-year war, with both sides trading accusations as battlefield tensions persist. Analysts warn that unverified claims like this risk further derailing prospects for a ceasefire.
NRI Globe will continue to monitor developments in this story.
