Overview
- Russia’s defense ministry and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reported a night-time attempt on the Novgorod residence using 91 long-range drones, all intercepted with no casualties or damage.
- Lavrov said retaliatory targets and timing have been set and that Russia’s negotiating stance will be revised even as contacts with the United States continue.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any tightening of Russia’s position will not be aired publicly and stressed that dialogue with Washington goes on.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied the incident, calling the claim “another lie” and saying Moscow is laying a pretext for strikes on government buildings in Kyiv.
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said President Vladimir Putin briefed U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the reported attack “very bad,” while Kazakhstan’s president condemned it and several Western figures labeled it an escalation or questioned Kyiv’s intentions.