Russia has handed the United States what it claims is evidence that Ukraine attempted to strike a Russian presidential residence. This unusual move comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing Ukraine war and a complex international response.
Russian Officials Present Drone Evidence to U.S. Attache
On Thursday, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, the head of Russia’s Main Directorate of the General Staff, personally showed a U.S. military attache part of a Ukrainian drone. He said the drone contained data proving that Ukrainian forces tried to target President Vladimir Putin’s residence. The residence is in Russia’s northern Novgorod region.
A video shared on the Russian Defence Ministry’s Telegram channel showed Kostyukov holding the device. He called it the “controlling mechanism” of the drone. Kostyukov said Russian experts had decrypted the drone’s memory. They confirmed that the intended target was the complex of buildings belonging to the Russian president.
Kostyukov said, “The decryption of the content of the navigation controller of the drones carried out by specialists of Russia’s special services confirms without question that the target of the attack was the complex of buildings of the Russian president’s residence in Novgorod region.” He added that sharing this evidence with the U.S. would “do away with any questions and allow for the truth to be established.”
Russia claims that earlier this week, Ukraine launched 91 long-range attack drones targeting the residence. Moscow said it successfully repelled the attack and announced that the findings would be shared with U.S. officials.
Disputed Accounts and International Reactions Over Putin’s Residence
Ukraine and Western countries have disputed Russia’s claims. A report by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday indicated that U.S. national security officials had determined Ukraine did not target Putin or any of his residences. Reuters has not independently verified this report.
Despite these contradictions, the Russian government appears determined to present its version of events. Russian Defence Ministry footage shows service members standing next to the remains of downed drones. The ministry maintains these fragments were part of the alleged Ukrainian assault.
Sanctions bite hard as Putin-linked oligarch loses fight to free $600 M superyacht in London
U.S. President Donald Trump initially appeared to take Russia’s claims seriously. On Monday, he told reporters that Putin had informed him about the alleged incident and appeared “very angry.” However, by Wednesday, Trump seemed more skeptical. He shared an editorial from the New York Post on social media, accusing Russia of blocking peace efforts in Ukraine, signaling a shift in tone.
Ukraine has strongly denied carrying out any attack on the Russian presidential residence. Kyiv has described Russia’s claims as part of a disinformation campaign designed to create distrust between Ukraine and the United States. The accusation surfaced shortly after a weekend meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, fueling suspicions about the timing of Russia’s announcement.
Russian Evidence Highlights Military Technology Concerns
The evidence Russia shared with the United States focuses on the technological components of the drone. Kostyukov highlighted that the memory device retrieved from the drone contained precise navigational instructions. He said these instructions point directly to the presidential residence in Novgorod.
The Russian Defence Ministry emphasized that analyzing such drones helps its military understand the capabilities of Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. It also helps them see what potential targets these drones could reach. By sharing the details with U.S. officials, Russia appears to be trying to influence international views of the Ukrainian military’s operations.
Kyiv rejects Moscow’s claim of drone strike on Putin’s home, calls it pretext for escalation
Images and videos posted by the ministry show fragments of the drones laid out for documentation. Service members are seen handling the debris carefully. This, Moscow says, underlines that the evidence is serious and not propaganda. Russian authorities assert that sharing this material with the United States will confirm their version of events. They say it will also support Moscow’s stance in ongoing discussions about the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, the international community remains cautious. Russia continues to assert that Ukraine attempted a strike on the presidential residence. However, Western experts and Ukrainian officials maintain that no such attack occurred. These conflicting accounts show how complicated information can be during wartime. They also highlight how drone technology can be both a tool and a source of political tension.