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US intelligence debunks Russian claims of Ukrainian drone strike on Putin
US national security officials have concluded that Ukraine did not target Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residences in a recent drone incident, directly challenging Moscow's assertions and raising questions about narratives that could undermine ongoing peace talks.
This assessment, backed by the Central Intelligence Agency, uncovered no evidence of any intent to strike Putin during the alleged events of December 28-29, according to a US official familiar with the intelligence. The findings were first detailed by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
Russia claimed on Monday that Ukraine deployed 91 long-range attack drones against Putin's residence in Valdaï, in the Novgorod region, labeling it a terrorist act. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated all drones were intercepted and warned that Moscow would reassess its negotiating stance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly dismissed the claims as another fabrication aimed at derailing diplomatic momentum.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas branded Russia's statements a deliberate distraction designed to sabotage peace efforts. "No one should accept baseless accusations from the aggressor that has indiscriminately targeted Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians," she posted on social media. The Institute for the Study of War noted a lack of the typical evidence accompanying verified Ukrainian long-range strikes, while local residents in Valdaï reported no explosions or air defense activity that night.
The claims surfaced just a day after US President Donald Trump met Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a peace framework said to be 90% complete. Putin later informed Trump of the supposed attack during a phone call, prompting Trump to voice frustration while acknowledging uncertainty over its occurrence.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged global condemnation of Russia's provocative rhetoric, insisting Kyiv targets only legitimate military objectives. Russia's Defense Ministry released nighttime footage purporting to show a downed drone, though it remains independently unverified.