Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence with drones, but experts say the allegation is illogical and unsupported. Ukraine has denied the charge, calling it a false claim used to justify further Russian military action.
Russia alleges drone attack on Putin’s Valdai residence
Russia’s Defence Ministry and senior officials claimed that Ukraine attempted to strike the Dolgiye Borody residence, also known as the Valdai or Uzhin residence. This estate is located on the shores of Lake Valdai in the Novgorod region and is known as one of President Putin’s key homes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine allegedly used as many as 91 long-range drones in the operation. He claimed Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted the drones before they could cause damage. Lavrov also suggested that the incident could affect Russia’s stance on ongoing peace discussions related to the war in Ukraine.
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The Kremlin did not confirm whether Vladimir Putin was present at the residence at the time of the alleged attack. However, Russian state media reported that Putin discussed the incident with US President Donald Trump in a phone call. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Trump was described as being “shocked” and “outraged” by the report, though Trump later said he would seek evidence before drawing conclusions.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly rejected Russia’s claims. He described the accusation as “another round of lies from the Russian Federation” and said Kyiv had no reason to carry out such an attack. Zelenskyy suggested Russia may be creating a false narrative to prepare the ground for further strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and government buildings.
The claim emerged only days after what were described as constructive talks between the United States and Ukraine, making the timing particularly notable.
Why experts say the claim does not make sense
Military experts say an attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence would be impractical and pointless. Peter Dickinson of the Atlantic Council stated that Ukraine did not attempt to target Putin or his home and noted that no independent sources support such claims.
Dickinson explained that Russian authorities heavily protect Putin’s residences. Strong air defence systems make it extremely difficult for drones to get through, and even if one did, the large size of the estates makes hitting a specific individual highly unlikely.
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Satellite imagery cited by the Institute for the Study of War shows that Russia had deployed multiple Pantsir-S1 air defence systems around the Valdai residence. The property is also located inside a restricted government resort, surrounded by natural and artificial security barriers.
Defence analyst Malcolm Davis said Ukraine may have the technical ability to launch long-range drones, but doing so would be a major strategic mistake. He warned it would harm Ukraine’s relations with key allies and give Russia grounds to escalate attacks, further casting doubt on Moscow’s claim.
Broader context of rising attacks and political tension
The accusation comes amid intensifying fighting in the Ukraine war. Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities have increased sharply in recent months, with analysts in Kyiv reporting almost nightly assaults involving hundreds of drones. These are not small devices but large, jet-powered drones carrying explosives, forcing civilians to regularly take shelter in basements and metro stations and disrupting daily life across the country.
At the same time, Russia has continued launching strikes even during periods when peace talks were reportedly underway. Analysts note that while discussions were taking place between Ukrainian and US officials, Russia carried out long-duration missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, raising doubts about Moscow’s commitment to de-escalation.
Some European experts believe the claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence could be a “false flag” operation. Some experts argue that Russia may use such allegations to undermine peace efforts and divert attention from its ongoing military actions in Ukraine.
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Putin’s residences have long attracted secrecy and speculation. Previous drone-related claims have focused on his Novo-Ogaryovo property near Moscow, and independent investigations suggest Putin uses multiple nearly identical offices in different locations to conceal his whereabouts.
Despite the accusations, no independent evidence has confirmed any Ukrainian attempt to directly target Putin or his homes. The situation remains marked by conflicting narratives, with experts urging caution when assessing claims made amid wartime propaganda.
