Russia Claims Ukraine Targeted Putin Residence

Russia said Monday that Ukraine attempted—but failed—to strike President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia using a large swarm of drones, a claim Ukraine strongly denies and calls a fabrication meant to disrupt ongoing peace efforts.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said 91 long-range drones targeted Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, northwest of Moscow. He claimed all the drones were intercepted, with no casualties or damage reported, and warned that what he called “reckless actions will not go unanswered,” according to Reuters. Lavrov provided no evidence to support the allegation, and it remains unclear whether Putin was at the residence at the time.

Lavrov accused Kyiv of escalating to “state terrorism” and said Russia would reconsider its negotiating stance, though he added that Moscow is not abandoning talks altogether, the BBC reported.

Ukraine flatly rejected the accusation. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the claim “another round of lies,” arguing that Russia is attempting to justify future attacks on Kyiv—possibly targeting government buildings—and to undermine progress in negotiations involving the United States. “It is critical that the world doesn’t stay silent now,” Zelensky said. “We cannot allow Russia to undermine the work on achieving a lasting peace.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also dismissed the drone claim as fabricated, saying it was being used as a pretext for additional Russian strikes and urging international partners to condemn Moscow’s narrative.

President Trump said he learned of Russia’s accusation during a phone call with Putin on Monday. “I don’t like it. It’s not good,” Trump said, according to Reuters. “I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.” He added that the timing was especially sensitive, saying, “It’s a delicate period of time. This is not the right time.” Trump also spoke with Putin on Sunday, ahead of Zelensky’s visit to Mar-a-Lago for talks.

When asked whether there was evidence supporting Russia’s claim, Trump told reporters, “Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning.”

The Hill reported that Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, criticized Trump for appearing to accept Putin’s account without verification. “President Trump and his team should get the facts first before assuming blame,” Bacon wrote on X. “Putin is a well-known boldface liar.”

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