Moscow accuses Kyiv of targeting Putin's residence with a drone: Video details and reactions
In a new escalation of the ongoing media and military war, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video on Wednesday documenting the wreckage of a drone, which it claimed Ukrainian forces used in an attempt to target President Vladimir Putin's residence in Valdai, northwest Russia. This announcement sparked a wave of international controversy and skepticism, especially as it comes at a sensitive time with reports suggesting negotiations are on the horizon.
Details of the Russian novel
According to Moscow's official account, the alleged attack occurred on the night of December 28-29, when approximately 91 drones targeted the heavily guarded presidential residence located between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Nighttime video footage showed the wreckage of a drone lying in the snow in a wooded area. The Ministry of Defense described the operation as a "meticulously planned terrorist attack," confirming that the president was unharmed.
To bolster its narrative, the ministry published an illustrative map of the marches' route, as well as a video testimony from a man from the Roshchino region who claimed to have been an eyewitness to the incident, threatening that this "personal attack" would push the Kremlin to toughen its conditions in any future negotiations.
Ukrainian denial and Western skepticism
In response, Kyiv swiftly and categorically denied these accusations, describing them as "lies" and "fabricated." The Ukrainian leadership believes that Moscow is concocting these pretexts to manipulate the peace process and undermine the diplomatic efforts launched last November to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Internationally, the European Union expressed skepticism, suggesting that Moscow was attempting to undermine progress through "baseless allegations." The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also weighed in, questioning the veracity of the attack. In its report, the institute noted the absence of any independent visual evidence or amateur footage on social media platforms, a departure from previous Ukrainian attacks, which were typically documented immediately by local residents via Telegram.
The significance of the timing and the importance of the event
This event gains significance from its timing and location; the Valdai Discussion Club is considered one of the Russian president's most important safe havens and is usually shrouded in secrecy. Targeting it, if true, would represent a major security and symbolic breach. However, some observers believe that the timing of the Russian announcement, coinciding with talk of progress in negotiations, may be a tactical maneuver by the Kremlin to raise the stakes or justify a future military escalation.
These developments indicate that the Russian-Ukrainian war is not limited to field battles, but extends to include a fierce psychological and information war, as each side seeks to establish its narrative before the international community, which puts the future of the current diplomatic negotiations at stake.
