Did Ukraine launch 91 drone attack on Putin’s presidential residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
Russia’s claim that Ukraine launched a 91-drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s personal residence has threatened to derail months of talks over a peace deal to end Moscow’s invasion.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has called the claims a “complete fabrication” intended to lay the groundwork for future strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine.
“I am sure they are simply preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings,” he said.
Donald Trump appeared swayed by Russian claim and said he was “very angry” at the news of the strikes. That reaction is likely one of the aims of Moscow’s accusations – with Trump’s support having wavered between Kyiv and Moscow in recent months.
Europe has sought to back Kyiv with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling the claims “unfounded” and a “deliberate distraction” in remarks on Wednesday.
“Moscow aims to derail real progress towards peace by Ukraine and its Western partners,” Ms Kallas wrote on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
“No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war.”
Putin’s Valdai residence, also known as “Uzhin” or “Dolgiye Borody”, is a heavily guarded complex on the shores of Lake Valdai situated 360km (225 miles) north of Moscow. His whereabouts at the time of the incident remain unconfirmed, though he is believed to have been away from home.
The Russian defence ministry said 91 drones had been downed on their way to Valdai, with 49 shot down over the Bryansk region – which is 450km from Valdai – one over Smolensk and 41 over the heavily forested Novgorod region.
From a technical standpoint, Ukraine does have the weapons to launch an attack on Putin’s presidential residence using strike drones and missile systems, according to Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian military and security analyst for the Information Resistance group.
With the residence located 400 miles (650 kilometres) from the Ukrainian border launch sites could allow for strikes of up to 430 miles (700km) into Russia.
“Ukraine possesses long-range strike drones with a flight range exceeding 1,000 kilometres, as well as missile systems capable of covering such distances—namely the R-360 Neptune missile, and, of course, the FP-5 Flamingo missile, which is likewise capable of reaching that range,” Kovalenko tells The Independent. “So technically, such a strike would have been possible.”
However, several commentators have pointed to the fact little evidence has been provided for the attacks.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which is usually able to verify strikes, says no open-source evidence such as geolocated videos, visible air defence activity, explosions or smoke, to support the claims. Unlike previous drone attacks, Russian civilians did not appear to post videos of explosions, smoke or other footage to social media.
