A day after Russia claimed that Ukrainian drones had carried out a large-scale attack on Moscow and parts of Crimea, videos circulating online showed repeated strikes allegedly targeting President Vladimir Putin’s official residence. Another video released by the Kremlin appeared to show one of the intercepted drones, which Russian authorities said was carrying an explosive payload weighing around six kilograms.
The reported attack, which allegedly took place ahead of New Year’s Eve, prompted concern from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Responding to the developments, Modi urged restraint and called on all sides to prioritise ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict. In a message shared on social media, he said he was deeply worried by reports of an attack on the Russian President’s residence and stressed that sustained dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to peace. He also appealed to all parties to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions or derail negotiations.
Ukraine, however, firmly rejected Russia’s claims and dismissed the concerns raised by India and other countries. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said there was no truth to the allegations and asserted that Moscow had failed to provide any credible evidence to support its version of events. Writing on X, Sybiha stated that nearly a full day had passed without Russia producing proof of any such attack, adding that none would be forthcoming because, according to Kyiv, no attack had occurred.
He also expressed disappointment at the reactions from countries such as India, the UAE and Pakistan, saying their statements were based on an incident that never took place. Sybiha insisted that the claims were part of a broader Russian narrative aimed at misleading the international community.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had accused Ukraine of launching as many as 91 drones at targets including Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, located between Moscow and St Petersburg. He said the drones were intercepted by Russian air defence systems before causing damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later described the episode as a deliberate attempt by Moscow to sabotage ongoing peace efforts. Speaking after meeting US President Donald Trump in Florida, Zelenskyy said Russia was using such allegations to justify further military action and to undermine diplomatic progress.
France also weighed in on the issue, stating that it had found no concrete evidence to substantiate Russia’s claims. French officials said the accusations made by Moscow were serious in nature but lacked supporting proof, reinforcing Ukraine’s position that the incident had been exaggerated or fabricated.
The episode has added fresh tension to already fragile diplomatic efforts, with multiple countries urging restraint while conflicting narratives continue to emerge over what actually occurred near the Russian president’s residence.
