Post by : Meena Ariff

On Wednesday, Russia’s defense ministry released nighttime footage showing a downed drone, which it alleges was launched by Ukraine targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region of northwest Russia. The video, published by the ministry, depicts the damaged drone lying abandoned in the snow within a forested area, appearing to provide evidence of the alleged attack.

This release follows earlier claims by Moscow that Ukraine had launched a large-scale assault on the presidential residence using 91 long-range attack drones. The Kremlin described the drone strikes as a “targeted, carefully planned operation carried out in stages.” However, Moscow has not provided any conclusive evidence to substantiate its claims, stating that all drones involved were shot down before causing damage.

Ukraine has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “lies” and “fabrications” with no credible proof. Kyiv’s government stated on Tuesday that there was no plausible evidence linking it to any drone attacks on Putin’s residences. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the claims as “complete fabrication” and urged international partners to verify the facts independently. Zelensky revealed that Ukraine’s negotiating team had coordinated with the American team and concluded that the incident was staged.

The Kremlin condemned the alleged drone attack as a “terrorist act” and a “personal attack” against President Putin, emphasizing the seriousness with which it views the incident. However, Russian officials acknowledged their inability to provide clear evidence because the drones were all reportedly intercepted and destroyed mid-air.

Adding to the controversy, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly commented on the situation, stating that Putin himself informed him about the attack. Trump criticized Kyiv’s offensive stance but suggested that targeting Putin’s residence was a significant escalation beyond usual hostilities.

The incident has further heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine as the conflict continues. Despite these allegations, diplomatic efforts persist, with President Zelensky scheduled to meet allies in France on January 6 to renew peace discussions.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides trading accusations and denials amid ongoing warfare and international diplomatic negotiations.

#World News #Russian news #Putin #Ukraine News