Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on Monday that Ukraine attempted to strike President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northern Russia, prompting Moscow to review its negotiating stance, but Kyiv denied the accusations outright. Lavrov said the alleged attack involved 91 long-range drones, all intercepted by Russian air defenses, with no casualties or damage reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed the Russian claims as false, accusing Moscow of creating a pretext to target government buildings in Kyiv. He said the statements are part of a strategy to undermine ongoing peace negotiations between the two nations.
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Lavrov warned that Russia has already selected targets for retaliatory strikes, describing the alleged drone attack as “state terrorism” that would not go unanswered. He emphasized that while Russia will continue peace talks, its position on the negotiations will be reassessed.
It remains unclear whether Putin was present at the Dolgiye Borody, or Long Beards, residence, a historic site previously used by Soviet leaders and past Russian presidents. The building’s symbolic significance adds weight to Moscow’s claims amid heightened tensions.
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Meanwhile, Putin ordered Russian forces to advance in southern Ukraine, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region. A Russian military commander reported that their troops are now approximately 15 kilometers from the region’s largest city, signaling continued military pressure on Kyiv.
The alleged attack and the subsequent denials highlight the deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv. Analysts warn that such claims could escalate tensions and further complicate any potential peace agreements in the ongoing conflict.