Russian authorities have released video footage purportedly showing a downed drone that they claim was part of an attempted attack on a presidential residence used by Vladimir Putin. The defense ministry shared the nighttime video, which depicts a damaged drone in a snowy, wooded area. Moscow alleges that 91 long-range drones were launched towards the Novgorod region residence but were intercepted and destroyed without causing damage. The Kremlin has characterized the incident as a “terrorist act” and a direct attack on President Putin.
This footage emerges days after Russia accused Ukraine of orchestrating a large-scale drone operation. Despite the release of the video, Russian officials had previously stated that all drones were shot down before they could be assessed for evidence. Ukraine has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them a “complete fabrication” and asserting that there is no credible evidence to support Moscow’s claims. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine and its partners reviewed the incident and concluded it was staged. Ukrainian officials are urging international partners to independently verify Russia’s allegations. Zelenskyy also mentioned plans for meetings with allies in France to advance peace initiatives. Former US President Donald Trump commented on the situation, stating he learned about the alleged attack directly from Putin, and noted that targeting a leader’s residence goes beyond typical military actions.
