Russia Releases Disturbing Footage Allegedly Showing Ukrainian Drone Strikes on President Putin’s Residence

Russia has released what it describes as disturbing video footage allegedly showing repeated Ukrainian drone strikes targeting the residence of President Vladimir Putin. The footage surfaced a day after Moscow claimed that a wave of Ukrainian drones struck areas around the Russian capital and parts of Crimea, sharply escalating tensions amid ongoing efforts to revive diplomatic engagement.

The videos, which have since gone viral on social media platforms, reportedly show multiple aerial strikes in the vicinity of the Russian president’s residence. In a separate clip made public by the Kremlin, one of the downed drones recovered from the area is shown carrying an explosive payload weighing approximately six kilograms. Russian authorities claim this demonstrates the seriousness of the alleged attack, though independent verification of the footage remains unavailable.

Reacting to the development ahead of New Year’s Eve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the reports and appealed for restraint, emphasizing that dialogue remains the only viable path to lasting peace.

“Very concerned about allegations that the Russian Federation President’s house has been targeted. The most practical way to put a stop to hostilities and bring about peace is through ongoing diplomatic efforts. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on social media.

Ukraine, however, firmly dismissed the concerns raised by Prime Minister Modi and other international leaders, maintaining that Russia’s claims lack factual basis. Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of amplifying unverified allegations to shape international opinion.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, “Almost a day has passed and Russia still hasn’t provided any plausible evidence to its accusations of Ukraine’s alleged ‘attack on Putin’s residence’. They also won’t, since none exists. No such attack took place.”

Sybiha further stated that Kyiv was “disappointed and concerned” by statements from Indian, Pakistani, and Emirati officials expressing alarm over what he described as an incident that never occurred, reiterating Ukraine’s position that the claims were entirely fabricated.

Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of deploying as many as 91 drones in an attempt to target Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, located between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Lavrov claimed that Russia’s air defence systems successfully intercepted and neutralised all incoming drones, preventing any major damage.

Following a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the allegations as a deliberate attempt by Russia to derail ongoing peace initiatives and “justify additional attacks against Ukraine.” He warned that such claims could further complicate fragile diplomatic efforts.

France also expressed skepticism over Moscow’s assertions, stating that it had not found any concrete or credible evidence to support what it termed “serious accusations made by the Russian authorities,” effectively aligning its stance with that of Ukraine.