West warns of ‘pretext’ as Russia alleges massive drone strike on Putin residence
The United States, France, and Germany have cast serious doubt on Moscow's allegations regarding a purported Ukrainian drone strike targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region.
Western leaders stated that no independent evidence currently confirms the Kremlin’s narrative. They warned that such claims might serve as a fabricated pretext for a major military escalation in the ongoing war.
Intelligence gaps and skepticism
U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker questioned the validity of the incident during a Fox Business interview on December 30. He noted that it remains unclear if an actual attack took place.
Whitaker confirmed that Washington is currently awaiting further intelligence from U.S. agencies and allied partners. The diplomat emphasized the need for verification before accepting Moscow’s version of events.
European leaders demand proof
Sources at the Élysée Palace indicated that France has found no convincing evidence to support the Kremlin's claims. Paris has intentionally avoided public commentary to prevent validating unverified Russian reports.
Similarly, the German government echoed concerns from Kyiv that Russia is manipulating the narrative. Berlin officials refused to provide further details but stressed the risk of Russia using the incident to justify new strikes.
Contradictory reports from Moscow
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on December 29 that Ukraine attempted to strike the "Dolgie Borody" residence at Lake Valdai with 91 drones. However, official reports from the Russian Defense Ministry have been inconsistent.
The Ministry initially reported 18 downed drones, later increasing the figure to 23. The tally was only revised to 91 late in the evening following Lavrov’s public statement.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed it has found no visual or physical evidence of a strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially denied any involvement in the alleged incident.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
