Russia Says Ukraine's Drones Targeted Putin's Home, Zelenskyy Calls It 'Complete Fabrication'

Last Updated:December 29, 2025, 22:13 IST

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the alleged incident would impact Moscow’s stance in any future negotiations with Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (File image)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday claimed that Ukraine had attempted to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Russia’s Novgorod region, warning that Moscow’s negotiating position would change as a result.

Calling it an act of “state terrorism," the Russian leader claimed that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at the presidential residence over December 28–29.

“All drones that attacked the Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region were destroyed by Russian air defence systems," Lavrov said as reported by Sputnik.

Warning retaliation, Lavrov said that such actions would not go unanswered.

“Such reckless actions will not go unanswered," he said, adding that targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces had already been determined.

Lavrov further said that the alleged incident would impact Moscow’s stance in any future negotiations with Kyiv, Interfax reported.

Putin’s top aide, Yuri Ushakov, said that US President Donald Trump was “shocked and outraged" over the alleged attack, RT News reported.

During his telephonic conversation with Putin after meeting Zelenskyy, Trump reportedly remarked, “Thank God we didn’t give Zelenskyy Tomahawk missiles."

Ukraine Denies Accusations

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Lavrov’s claims as false and politically motivated.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Russia was using “dangerous statements" to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war.

“This alleged “residence strike" story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies," he said.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of routinely spreading disinformation, saying Ukraine does not take actions that undermine diplomacy.

“To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us," he said, urging the international community not to remain silent.

Trump-Zelenskyy Meet

The alleged incident took place just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump held a high-level meeting in Miami on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

After the meeting, Trump said that diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war were in the “final stages".

“I think we’re very, we’re in the final stages of talking, and we’re going to see. Otherwise, it’s going to go on for a long time," said Trump, adding that he did not have a deadline for the process.

Trump said Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whom he spoke to just before his meeting with Zelensky, was “very serious" about peace. He added that there would be “a strong agreement" to guarantee Ukraine’s security, one which would involve European countries.

Ahead of the meeting, Russia urged Kyiv to withdraw its troops from the eastern Donbas region to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine should now take the “brave decision" to pull out of the Donbas “without delay", the Kremlin’s diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Ukraine’s departure from the fifth of the eastern Donetsk region in the Donbas, still under its control, is a key Russian demand for any agreement.

With inputs from agencies

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