Overview
- Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said 91 long-range drones targeted the Novgorod-area residence overnight on Dec. 28–29 and claimed all were intercepted with no damage shown.
- Ukraine rejected the allegation, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling it a fabrication and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha saying Russia has offered no plausible evidence.
- Russian officials threatened a response and a tougher negotiating posture, as Lavrov said targets and timing were set and Maria Zakharova warned the reply would not be diplomatic.
- Dmitry Medvedev issued personal threats toward Zelenskyy, and Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Vladimir Putin informed President Donald Trump by phone, who later said he was “very angry.”
- International reactions called for restraint, with India expressing deep concern, Pakistan and the UAE condemning the reported targeting, and China urging all sides to avoid escalation.