Overview
- Moscow alleges 91 Ukrainian drones targeted Putin’s Waldai residence with no injuries or damage, and officials threaten retaliation and a tougher stance in talks.
- Kyiv categorically denies any strike, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling the claim a lie and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noting Russia has provided no evidence.
- Independent analysts, including ISW, report no corroboration such as debris, local accounts, or NASA FIRMS thermal signatures, and highlight conflicting Russian drone tallies.
- The Waldai complex is documented as heavily defended with multiple Pantsir systems and at least one S‑400 battery, which analysts say further undercuts the plausibility of the claim.
- Diplomacy faces new friction as Russia says it will reassess its position, the US response has shifted with Trump indicating Russia is blocking progress, and early‑January meetings remain scheduled.