Russia accused Ukraine of attempting a large-scale drone attack on a state residence used by President Vladimir Putin and warned that a retaliatory strike has already been planned. Kyiv has firmly rejected the allegations.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine launched 91 drones overnight toward a state residence in the Novgorod region. According to him, all of the drones were intercepted by air defense systems. Lavrov claimed that Moscow has already determined both the targets and the timing of a retaliatory strike.
“The targets and timing of Russia’s retaliatory strike following the attack on the president’s state residence have been determined,” Lavrov said, adding that the incident would lead to a reassessment of Moscow’s negotiating position.
He also accused Kyiv of what he described as a definitive shift to a “policy of state terrorism,” stressing that this factor would be taken into account in future diplomatic contacts. At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia does not intend to withdraw entirely from the negotiating process.
Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the Russian accusations, denying that Ukrainian forces had struck any residences linked to Putin. At the same time, Zelensky warned that Russia may be preparing strikes on government buildings in Kyiv, describing Lavrov’s statements as part of an escalation strategy.
The exchange of statements highlights a sharp divergence between Moscow’s and Kyiv’s accounts at a sensitive moment in the conflict. Russian authorities are presenting the alleged drone attack as grounds for intensifying pressure on Ukraine’s leadership, while Kyiv views the accusations as a pretext for further military action.
Lavrov’s remarks have also raised questions about what Moscow means by revising its negotiating position. Russian officials have not specified how their demands might change, but the rhetoric suggests an attempt to force Kyiv to accept terms for ending the war that it has previously rejected.
The episode adds to the uncertainty surrounding the potential role of external actors in exerting pressure on Ukraine to extract concessions. For now, both sides signal that events are accelerating, despite the formal preservation of diplomatic channels.