Ukraine has issued a firm rebuttal to Moscow's claims that its forces launched a drone attack on Vladimir Putin's official residence, labelling the allegation a baseless fabrication designed to derail peace efforts.
Kyiv Demands Evidence for 'False' Claims
In a statement on social media platform X, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, asserted that Russia "still hasn't provided any plausible evidence" to support its story. Kyiv has dismissed the claim as a lie intended to justify future Russian strikes and to disrupt ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.
Sybiha characterised the making of such "false claims" as a "signature tactic" employed by the Kremlin, which he accused of often blaming others for actions it itself plans to carry out.
Lavrov's Allegations and International Reaction
The allegations were first publicly aired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He stated that Russian air defences had shot down 91 long-range drones overnight targeting Putin's state residence in the Novgorod region. Lavrov condemned what he termed "state terrorism" and warned that "such reckless actions will not go unanswered," adding that targets for retaliatory strikes had already been selected. No imagery, evidence of damage, or reports of casualties were provided.
Minister Sybiha expressed particular disappointment with the reaction from some nations, stating: "We were disappointed and concerned to see the statements by Emirati, Indian, and Pakistani sides expressing their concerns regarding the attack that never happened." He contrasted this with their lack of official statements when a real Russian missile struck a real Ukrainian government building on September 7, 2025.
Diplomatic Context and Stalled Peace Talks
Lavrov's claims emerged just one day after a significant diplomatic meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. The two leaders met for almost three hours in Florida to discuss a revised 20-point plan to end the war.
Both sides reported progress from the talks and stressed that the lengthy peace process would continue. However, President Trump cautioned that "one or two tough" outstanding issues remained, including contentious questions over territory, indicating significant hurdles still block the path to a resolution.
