Russia will revise negotiating position after alleged Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has claimed that Ukraine carried out an overnight drone strike on a residence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and said this would lead to a revision of Russia's "negotiating position".

Source: Russian state media, citing a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Details: Lavrov claimed that overnight, Ukraine attacked Putin's residence in Russia's Novgorod Oblast (probably Valdai) using 91 attack UAVs. He claimed that Russian air defence systems destroyed all the drones. Lavrov said that "Russia's negotiating position will be revised", but added that Russia does not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the United States regarding Ukraine.

Lavrov also stated that these actions will not go unanswered and that both the targets and timing of Russia's retaliatory strikes have already been decided by the Armed Forces.

It should be noted that on Monday, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed it had intercepted and destroyed 89 Ukrainian drones overnight, which does not match the number cited by Lavrov. Moreover, only 18 of the drones were reported to have been shot down over Novgorod Oblast.

Previously: On 29 December, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will continue to follow the directions of its General Staff to achieve the objectives of the "special military operation" – the term used by Russian propaganda for the war against Ukraine.

Background:

• In 2021, the Russian organisation the Anti-Corruption Foundation published a video about the official but secret country residence of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin on Lake Valdai in Novgorod Oblast. The group said that Putin had four residences: the Kremlin, Novo-Ogaryovo in Moscow Oblast, Bocharov Ruchey in Sochi, and Dolgye Borody (Valdai or Uzhin) in Novgorod Oblast.
• In 2023, the investigative media outlet Proekt (Project) reported that a secret railway line and a network of stations had been built for Putin, leading to his residences.
• In April 2023, it became known that a Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and gun system had been installed at Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi, where one of Putin's secret residences is located.
• In October 2024, the main building at Putin's residence in Sochi was demolished, reportedly because he had become afraid to visit the resort following Ukrainian drone attacks.

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