Russia Claims Ukraine Targeted Putin’s Home With Drones, Kyiv Dismisses Allegation as ‘Lie’
KYIV: Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of launching dozens of drones at one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences, a claim Kyiv strongly denied, calling it a fabrication intended to derail US-led peace efforts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine had fired 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles at Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region between late Sunday and early Monday. He claimed all the drones were intercepted and destroyed.
Lavrov warned that Russia would reconsider its negotiating position, accusing what he called the “criminal Kyiv regime” of adopting a policy of state terrorism. He did not provide further details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the allegation as “a complete fabrication,” saying it was designed to undermine diplomatic progress. In a post on X, he suggested Moscow was using inflammatory statements to justify intensified attacks on Ukraine.
The accusation comes at a sensitive moment in peace negotiations. Ukraine says it has agreed to around 90 percent of a US-drafted peace plan, including post-war security guarantees, though territorial issues remain unresolved. Russia has not publicly detailed which elements of the plan it supports but said it remains committed to talks while reviewing its stance.
US President Donald Trump has recently held talks with both sides, including a phone call with Putin described by the White House as “positive.” Trump also met Zelensky on Sunday, offering security guarantees for up to 15 years, according to Kyiv.
However, major sticking points persist, including control of occupied territories and the future of the Moscow-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Putin said Monday that Russian forces were continuing their advance and reaffirmed Moscow’s intention to capture four Ukrainian regions it claimed to annex in 2022. Russia also reported capturing another village in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
The war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, remains the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, with no final settlement yet in sight.
