Overview
- Russia released video of Admiral Igor Kostyukov giving a recovered drone navigation controller to a U.S. military attache, asserting decrypted data shows the Novgorod presidential residence was the intended target.
- A CIA assessment briefed to President Trump on December 31 concluded there was no credible evidence Ukraine targeted any presidential residence and said the drones were aimed at a nearby military site.
- Ukraine rejected the allegation as a fabrication, and U.S. national security officials cited by the Wall Street Journal echoed the view that Putin’s residence was not the target.
- Trump shifted from initial anger to publicly casting doubt by sharing a New York Post editorial that accused Russia of obstructing peace efforts.
- Russian officials warned the episode could affect negotiations, while independent verification of Moscow’s footage and claimed decryption has not been established in the context of escalating cross-border drone strikes.