Russia Claims to Provide US with Evidence of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence

Russia has announced that it has presented what it calls tangible proof to the United States alleging that a Ukrainian drone attempted to strike one of President Vladimir Putin’s official residences. The claim, made on Thursday, has added a fresh layer of tension to an already fragile geopolitical environment, as negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine continue behind the scenes.

According to Russian officials, a key component recovered from a downed Ukrainian drone was formally handed over to a US military attaché earlier this week. The exchange was overseen by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, who said the evidence directly links the drone’s mission to Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region.

Reuters reported that Russian authorities believe data extracted from the device proves that the drone was programmed to target the presidential compound. Moscow has described the alleged incident as a serious escalation and warned that it could negatively affect diplomatic discussions with Washington over the conflict in Ukraine.

Video Shows Handover of Drone Component

The Russian Defense Ministry released video footage on its official Telegram channel showing Admiral Kostyukov presenting a drone navigation controller to a US military representative. The component was reportedly recovered from the wreckage of one of several unmanned aerial vehicles intercepted by Russian air defenses.

In the video, Kostyukov claimed that Russian intelligence specialists had decrypted the navigation controller’s memory and reached a definitive conclusion about the intended target.

“The decryption of the content of the memory 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 the Novgorod region,” Kostyukov said.

He added that Russia believes sharing the physical evidence with US authorities would help dispel doubts and establish what Moscow describes as the truth behind the incident.

Earlier in the week, Russian officials claimed that Ukraine launched as many as 91 long-range attack drones in what they described as a coordinated attempt to strike the presidential residence. Moscow warned that such actions, if confirmed, could have serious consequences for diplomatic engagement between Russia and the United States.

Western and Ukrainian Accounts Contradict Moscow

Russia’s version of events has been firmly disputed by Ukraine and several Western governments. Kyiv has categorically denied launching any drone attack targeting President Putin or any of his residences.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the recovered drone component would be formally transferred to US authorities for further examination. However, reports from Western media suggest that US intelligence agencies remain unconvinced by Moscow’s claims.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published on Wednesday, US national security agencies concluded that Ukraine did not target President Putin or any presidential residence. The assessment reportedly contradicts Russia’s narrative and casts doubt on the authenticity or interpretation of the evidence presented.

US President Donald Trump initially appeared to lend some credence to Moscow’s claims. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said that Putin had personally informed him about the alleged drone attack and expressed anger over the incident.

However, by Wednesday, Trump’s stance appeared to shift. In a social media post, he shared an editorial from the New York Post that accused Russia of obstructing efforts to reach a peace settlement in Ukraine, signaling growing skepticism within the US administration.

Ukrainian officials have continued to reject the accusation, describing it as a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at undermining Kyiv’s relationship with Washington. They argue that the timing of the claim is particularly suspicious, coming shortly after a high-profile meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As the war in Ukraine drags on, the alleged drone incident highlights the deep mistrust between the parties involved. Whether the evidence presented by Russia will influence US policy or international opinion remains uncertain, but the episode underscores how quickly tensions can escalate amid an already volatile conflict.