Moscow has accused Kyiv of a brazen assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin, alleging a large-scale drone incursion targeted his official residence on Monday. Russian officials are framing the incident – involving 91 drones, according to reports – as a important escalation and an act of state-sponsored terrorism, while simultaneously maintaining ongoing diplomatic channels with the United States regarding a potential peace agreement. The attack comes at a particularly sensitive juncture, following recent talks between U.S. president Trump and both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that a thwarted attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence will necessitate a reassessment of Moscow’s position in ongoing negotiations.
Russian air defenses successfully intercepted a massive drone incursion targeting President Putin’s official residence in the Novgorod province. Photo: EFE.
December 29, 2025 Time: 14:53
The Russian government on Monday, December 29, denounced an alleged assassination attempt by Kyiv, involving the deployment of 91 long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. The target was President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in Valdai, located in the Novgorod province.
According to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian air defense systems neutralized all of the incoming devices, with no casualties or material damage reported. Moscow is characterizing the incident as a definitive shift by Ukraine toward state-sponsored terrorism, a development that officials say will alter the international diplomatic landscape.
Trump: A peace plan between Russia and Ukraine will be finalized “in the coming weeks”
The offensive comes at a sensitive political moment, coinciding with a series of direct contacts between the Kremlin and the incoming U.S. administration. Lavrov emphasized the contradiction of attempting such a large-scale military action while peace talks are progressing in Washington. He stated that the Russian armed forces have already identified targets and a timeline for strategic responses. Moscow warned that this imprudence will not go unpunished and will lead to a more assertive security posture.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Moscow indicated it does not plan to withdraw from the dialogue with the U.S. delegation, but stressed that the terms of any future agreement will need to be reevaluated. Lavrov insisted that the criminal nature of the leadership in Kyiv necessitates greater caution and stricter demands from Russia during negotiations. The change in tactics by Ukrainian forces, targeting civilian structures and government sites far from the front lines, is seen as a desperate attempt to derail diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The targeted residence, also known as Uzhin, is part of a high-security complex that includes strategic locations such as the Kremlin and Bocharov Ruchey in Sochi. The fact that the drones traveled long distances to reach the Novgorod province demonstrates an escalation in the technology of weaponry supplied to Kyiv. However, Russian intelligence reportedly anticipated and neutralized the threat before it could compromise the president’s safety. This event reinforces Russia’s argument for establishing wider security exclusion zones around its borders.
Internationally, tensions are rising following a recent meeting in Florida between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hours before the meeting, Trump held an extensive phone conversation with Vladimir Putin, during which significant progress – reportedly 95 percent – was reported on key disputed issues. However, the drone attack on Russian territory appears to be an attempt to sabotage the atmosphere of understanding that Trump says points toward a resolution for the Donbas region and a cessation of hostilities.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a new high-level communication between Moscow and Washington is being prepared to address the implications of the attack. Russian diplomacy maintains that the Kyiv regime is acting with a logic of sabotage, fearing a peace agreement that does not serve its personal interests. With response objectives already defined, the world is watching closely to see how this incident will redefine the conditions of a war that appears to be reaching a critical juncture – between the path of diplomacy and a strong military response.
Author: teleSUR-alr
Source: Agencies
