Russia<\/a>\u2019s claim that Ukraine launched a 91-drone strike on <\/a>Vladimir Putin<\/a>\u2019s personal residence has threatened to derail months of talks over a peace deal to end Moscow\u2019s invasion. <\/p>\n Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> has called the claims a \u201ccomplete fabrication<\/a>\u201d intended to lay the groundwork for future strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine. <\/p>\n \u201cI am sure they are simply preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/a> appeared swayed by Russian claim and said he was \u201cvery angry\u201d at the news of the strikes. That reaction is likely one of the aims of Moscow\u2019s accusations \u2013 with Trump\u2019s support having wavered between Kyiv and Moscow in recent months.<\/p>\n Europe has sought to back Kyiv with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas<\/a> calling the claims \u201cunfounded\u201d and a \u201cdeliberate distraction\u201d in remarks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cMoscow aims to derail real progress towards peace by Ukraine<\/a> and its Western partners,\u201d Ms Kallas wrote on X\/Twitter on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine\u2019s infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the state armament programme last week (POOL\/AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n Where did the attacks happen?<\/p>\n Putin\u2019s Valdai residence, also known as \u201cUzhin\u201d or \u201cDolgiye Borody\u201d, is a heavily guarded complex on the shores of Lake Valdai situated 360km (225 miles) north of Moscow. His whereabouts at the time of the incident remain unconfirmed, though he is believed to have been away from home. <\/p>\n The Russian defence ministry said 91 drones had been downed on their way to Valdai, with 49 shot down over the Bryansk region \u2013 which is 450km from Valdai \u2013\u00a0one over Smolensk and 41 over the heavily forested Novgorod region. <\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s military capabilities <\/p>\n From a technical standpoint, Ukraine does have the weapons to launch an attack on Putin\u2019s presidential residence using strike drones and missile systems, according to Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian military and security analyst for the Information Resistance group. <\/p>\n With the residence located 400 miles (650km) from the Ukrainian border launch sites could allow for strikes of up to 430 miles (700km) into Russia. <\/p>\n \u201cUkraine possesses long-range strike drones with a flight range exceeding 1,000km, as well as missile systems capable of covering such distances \u2013 namely the R-360 Neptune missile, and, of course, the FP-5 Flamingo missile, which is likewise capable of reaching that range,\u201d Kovalenko tells The Independent. \u201cSo technically, such a strike would have been possible.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n The residence is located 650km from the Ukrainian border (Google Maps)<\/p>\n The evidence on the ground<\/p>\n However, several commentators have pointed to the fact little evidence has been provided for the attacks. <\/p>\n The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which is usually able to verify strikes, says no open-source evidence such as geolocated videos, visible air defence activity, explosions or smoke, to support the claims. Unlike previous drone attacks, Russian civilians did not appear to post videos of explosions, smoke or other footage to social media. <\/p>\n Valdai residents told The Moscow Times that they heard no evidence of a military attack on the night. <\/p>\n \u201cNo air raid sirens were reported in that area,\u201d says Kovalenko. \u201cNo drone flights were detected heading toward Valdai. Yes, an attack did occur that night\u2014but not in the direction of Valdai, and involving a significantly smaller number of drones, moving along an entirely different axis.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cAir defense systems in that area were not active that night. Local residents did not report air defence activity. No monitoring channels or OSINT analysts recorded strikes or drone flights of that scale in that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Talks between the US and Ukraine have gained momentum (AP)<\/p>\n There have also been inconsistencies in the number of drones reported by Russian authorities, according to the ISW. Lavrov claimed 89 drones had been shot down over Novgorod while the defence ministry said the number was 47. <\/p>\n While some Russian telegram channels appear to show plumes of smoke in some regions, they have not been independently verified. <\/p>\n![\"Vladimir](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2252840747.jpg\")
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