Russia’s claim that Ukraine launched a 91-drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s personal residence has threatened to derail months of talks over a peace deal to end Moscow’s invasion.
“I am sure they are simply preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings,” he said.
From a technical standpoint, Ukraine does have the weapons to launch an attack on Putin’s presidential residence using strike drones and missile systems, according to Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian military and security analyst for the Information Resistance group.
Arpan Rai5 January 2026 04:27
President Donald Trump said US officials had determined that Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian president Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week, disputing a Kremlin claim that he had initially greeted with deep concern.
Trump said “something happened nearby” but Americans officials didn’t find the Russian president’s residence was targeted.
“I don’t believe that strike happened,” Trump told reporters. “We don’t believe that happened, now that we’ve been able to check.”
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Ukraine had launched a wave of drones at Putin’s residence in the northwestern Novgorod region that the Russian defence systems were able to defeat.
Lavrov also criticised Kyiv for launching the attack at a moment of intensive negotiations to end the war.
The allegation came just a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Trump in Florida on the US administration’s 20-point plan aimed at ending the war. Zelensky had quickly denied the allegation.
Arpan Rai5 January 2026 04:13
A Russian air attack on Kyiv killed one civilian, Ukraine’s military said this morning, in what appeared to be the first reported death in Russian strikes on the capital this year.
“One person has been killed so far as a result of the attack. The attack is continuing,” said Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration.
He said people were being evacuated from a building damaged in the attack in the Obolonskyi district, north of Kyiv’s centre.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence forces were operating in the capital and urged residents to remain in shelters.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones during the nearly four-year-old war, saying it strikes military targets, while Ukraine says civilians and civilian infrastructure are often hit.
Arpan Rai5 January 2026 03:57