The Russian Ministry of Defense today presented the first detailed report on the alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai, stating that more than half of the drones were destroyed hundreds of kilometers away from the estate.
Authorities in Moscow claim that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone operation targeting Putin’s residence in the northwestern Novgorod region between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
Satellite images taken last summer showed that this Putin estate is protected from multiple directions by S-400 air defense systems (PVO), and this is not the only such residence.
Ukraine dismissed the accusations as an attempt to disrupt U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The Moscow Times notes that the Russian claims appeared unusual both in timing and in their presentation.
The first details of the attack were not announced by the Ministry of Defense or regional authorities, which usually report on Ukrainian drone attacks, but by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who delivered something resembling a military briefing while Putin was speaking by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.
TARGET OF UKRAINIAN STRIKES? This is what Putin’s residence in Novgorod allegedly looks like
After Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that there was no need to provide proof of an attack on the residence, today Major General Aleksandr Romanenkov, who commands the missile troops of the air defense forces (PVO) of the Russian Aerospace Forces, said that Ukraine carried out a drone attack “along several routes toward the residence of the Russian president, crossing over the Bryansk, Smolensk, Tver and Novgorod regions.”
According to Romanenkov, 50 of the 91 drones used in the attack were intercepted over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, which are located hundreds of kilometers from Putin’s residence and regularly face drone attacks from Ukraine.
A map shown during the Defense Ministry briefing indicated that the interception center in Bryansk and Smolensk was approximately 520 kilometers south of Valdai.
Romanenkov, who did not explain how the military determined that those 50 Ukrainian drones were heading toward Valdai, said that another 41 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over the Novgorod region and that each carried six kilograms of explosives.
- The configuration of the attack, the number of air attack assets involved… clearly indicate that the terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime was deliberate, carefully planned and carried out in a layered manner – the general said.
Russia’s clowns in the Defense Ministry just can’t stop embarrassing themselves
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 31, 2025
After contradicting Lavrov on the day of the mythical “drone attack” on Putin’s residence, the military suddenly changed their tune and now confirm the strike actually happened.
Problem is — they… pic.twitter.com/8b38uskv2D
Along with Romanenkov’s statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video that it says shows a downed Ukrainian drone in a snow-covered forest at night, claiming it was one of dozens used in the attack on Valdai.
The footage contained no details that would allow independent verification of when or where it was recorded.
🤡🥴 Russian shows Ukrainian drones shot down while "flying toward Putin’s residence", carrying a 6-kg charge… pic.twitter.com/M7EEaUUsK1
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) December 31, 2025
The Defense Ministry briefing is unlikely to dispel accusations by Ukrainian officials that the Russian claim of an attack on Putin’s residence is fabricated and possibly an attempt to sow discord between the Trump administration and Kyiv.
Trump told reporters on Monday that he was “very angry” about the incident.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian negotiating team discussed the accusations with U.S. officials.
- Our partners can verify whether this is fabricated, given their technical capabilities – he said.
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Source: Kurir/The Moscow Times Foto: Printscreen Youtube