The Kremlin has dismissed demands for evidence after Russia accused Ukraine of trying to strike a presidential residence linked to Vladimir Putin near Lake Valdai, in the Novgorod region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said questioning Moscow’s account was “completely insane”, while declining to say where the Russian president was at the time of the alleged incident.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones overnight on 28–29 December towards the state residence, and that Russian air defences destroyed them all with no casualties or damage. Kyiv denied the allegation, calling it fabricated, and said Moscow had provided no credible proof.
Beyond a defence ministry statement, Russia has not released public evidence such as imagery or independently verifiable data to support the claim. The defence ministry’s earlier daily reporting had not mentioned an attack on the residence, though the Novgorod region’s governor said air defences and fighter jets were engaged against incoming drones.
Peskov said Moscow viewed the alleged incident as an attempt to derail negotiations, adding that Russia would continue talks but “toughen” its negotiating position. Asked whether Russia had physical evidence, he referred questions about wreckage to the defence ministry. He also said Putin’s location should not be disclosed “in light of recent events”.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said “no such attack happened” and argued that Russia’s accusation was designed to justify further strikes and to complicate diplomatic efforts. He also criticised the United Arab Emirates, India and Pakistan for expressing concern over what he described as an event that did not occur.
The dispute comes amid renewed US-led contacts aimed at ending the war. President Donald Trump met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on 28 December, saying afterwards that the sides were “closer than ever” to a deal, while acknowledging negotiations could still fail.
In comments reported by Reuters, Trump said Putin told him about the alleged attack during a phone call and that he was “very angry”, while also saying he had no additional information at that point and that US agencies would “find out” what happened. Reuters said territorial issues remained unresolved in the broader talks, with Moscow reiterating demands linked to occupied regions and Kyiv pressing for security guarantees.
Several governments in the so-called global south issued statements responding to Russia’s allegation, drawing criticism in Kyiv because a number of these states have maintained commercial ties with Moscow since the invasion. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “strongly condemned” the reported attempt to target President Vladimir Putin’s residence and rejected acts that could undermine security and stability. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the “reported targeting” in a post on X, describing it as a threat to peace and stability while diplomatic efforts were under way. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said he was “deeply concerned” by the reports and urged all parties to remain focused on diplomacy.
Ukrainian officials argue that such expressions of concern lend weight to an allegation for which Moscow has produced no public evidence, and they point to continued trade with Russia—particularly purchases of discounted Russian oil—as helping sustain Kremlin revenues. The Trump administration has also publicly said India’s increased buying of Russian crude helps finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Residents in Valdai, in Russia’s Novgorod region, said they neither heard nor saw any signs of a large overnight drone assault, despite official claims that almost 100 Ukrainian drones were aimed at President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the area.
