‘Drone Attack’ On Putin’s Residence? Russia Releases Video, Ukraine And EU Call It Fake | World News
Bern/Kyiv: Russia released a video claiming that Ukrainian forces attempted a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s private residence; This claim was rejected by the European Union and Kyiv as false and misleading.
A senior EU diplomat described Russia’s claim as a “deliberate diversion” and said it was aimed at undermining ongoing peace talks. European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas warned on social media, “No one should accept the unfounded claims of an attacker who indiscriminately targets Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians.”
Russia released a video #Ukrainian A ‘drone’ attack was carried out on Putin’s house.
In the footage, the attack on Putin’s residence is seen, while unmanned aerial vehicles are reported to be flying deep into Russian territory. pic.twitter.com/PN2N42cZny— Upendrra Rai (@UpendrraRai) January 1, 2026
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His post was seen as a direct response to Russia’s narrative.
Earlier this week, Russian officials claimed an attack targeted Putin’s private home near Lake Valdai in Russia’s northwest. The Kremlin announced that it would review the ongoing peace talks following the alleged incident.
Russia’s Evidence, Official Statements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov first announced the attack in question, and since then Russian media and officials have repeatedly emphasized the allegations in strong terms. Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian parliamentary defense committee, said, “This is an attack on the heart of Russia. It is impossible to forgive Ukraine’s actions.”
The Kremlin initially said there was no benefit in sharing the evidence publicly. However, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Russian army released a video that it claimed showed an attempted drone attack. The footage includes a map purporting to depict drones launched from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine, and shows a drone lying in a snowy forest. A soldier stands nearby and says, “This is a Ukrainian Shaqlun UAV.”
Zee News could not independently verify the video or the location shown. Although the drone is similar to models produced in Ukraine, its components are cheap and available online. This means they cannot be definitively linked to the Ukrainian military.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also released footage from a local who claimed to have heard rocket-like sounds during the alleged attack. But Russian investigative media reported that they spoke to more than a dozen residents near Putin’s residence and none heard anything unusual. “If this happened, everyone in town would be talking about it,” one resident said.
Ukraine calls Russia’s claims absurd
Ukraine rejected Russia’s claims as “ridiculous”. Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi told Reuters: “They are not even serious about making up stories.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky also strongly denied the allegations and suggested they were linked to attempts to disrupt US-brokered ceasefire talks.
Speaking on New Year’s eve, he said, “The peace agreement is 90% ready; only 10% is left. Russia is trying to undermine the positive environment between the United States and Ukraine.”
Kiev authorities issued a brief weather warning after the drones were spotted on Wednesday night, but no attacks or damage were reported.
International Reactions
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Zelensky to discuss ending the war, strengthening security guarantees and ensuring the conflict does not reignite. The national security advisors of Britain, France and Germany also took part in the consultations.
The alleged drone attack sparked outrage from global leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about the news targeting Putin’s residence by tweeting, “Diplomatic efforts are the most effective way to end the conflict. All parties should focus on these efforts and avoid actions that could endanger peace.”
US President Donald Trump said he was “extremely angry” about the incident. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged attack and said in his post on channel X: “Such incidents pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability, especially at a time when peacemaking efforts are ongoing.”
