President Zelensky has called on world leaders to actively counter what he describes as Russian disinformation campaigns following Moscow’s allegations about a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin’s residence. The Ukrainian leader characterized Russia’s claims as deliberate fabrications intended to undermine diplomatic efforts and justify further military aggression.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at President Putin’s estate in the Novgorod region over December 28-29. He labeled the alleged operation as state terrorism and promised that Russia would retaliate with military force. Lavrov confirmed that despite successful interception of all drones by air defense systems, Moscow had identified targets for counterstrike operations.
Zelensky rejected the accusations outright, arguing that Russia was building a false narrative to support planned strikes on Ukrainian government facilities in Kyiv. He emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to diplomatic solutions and does not engage in provocative actions that could jeopardize peace processes. The Ukrainian president drew a sharp contrast between Ukrainian and Russian approaches to conflict resolution.
The timing of these allegations has created particular concern given ongoing efforts to broker a peaceful settlement. Zelensky specifically mentioned work with President Trump’s team as potentially threatened by Russian manipulation. He argued that Moscow’s claims were designed to disrupt diplomatic progress at a critical moment when various parties were working toward common ground.
In his appeal to the international community, Zelensky stressed that silence in the face of Russian disinformation effectively enables Moscow to continue disrupting peace initiatives. He referenced Russia’s historical attacks on Ukrainian government buildings, including the Cabinet of Ministers facility, as evidence of a pattern where Moscow accuses Ukraine of actions Russia itself regularly commits. The Ukrainian leader argued that preventing successful Russian manipulation requires consistent, active international engagement and public exposure of Moscow’s tactics.