On Wednesday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense shared nighttime footage, claiming it depicts a Ukrainian drone that was intercepted while allegedly trying to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence.
Captured in a snow-covered forest, the video features Russian soldiers examining what the Kremlin asserts is debris from a Ukrainian-made Chakrun V drone. Officials claimed this drone was shot down before reaching Putin’s residence by Lake Valdai in the Novgorod region, carrying 6 kilograms of explosives that, fortunately, didn’t detonate.
This footage surfaced amidst growing skepticism regarding Moscow’s narrative surrounding the incident.
According to U.S. national security officials, as reported, it appears that Ukraine did not target Putin or his residence. The Wall Street Journal noted that this assessment was corroborated by CIA findings suggesting there was no actual attack on Putin. Rather, it seems Ukraine aimed at military sites it had previously struck in the vicinity.
Ukrainian officials persistently deny these allegations. Military drone experts pointed out that the footage showed little evidence indicating an attack on one of Russia’s most secure locations. Cameron Chell, the CEO of Dragonfly, remarked that the video merely displays a damaged drone under the watch of Russian military personnel, emphasizing the unsuitability of such drones for significant missions.
Despite Russia’s assertion that the drone was part of a larger Ukrainian operation targeting Putin’s presidential palace, discrepancies emerged. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that 91 drones were intercepted on their way to Putin’s residence. However, this figure conflicts with earlier statements from the Defense Ministry, which initially reported 89 drones shot down across eight regions, later amending this number upward.
Concerning the broader context, the timing of these allegations raised eyebrows, especially following what the Russian government characterized as a favorable discussion between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida. In addition, President Zelenskiy has dismissed the purported drone attack as a “complete fabrication,” asserting it was designed to rationalize further Russian aggression and disrupt ongoing diplomatic initiatives.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Ukraine’s denials, indicating that Russia would adopt a tougher diplomatic approach.
