The Russian Ministry of Defense released a video of the downing of a drone that Ukraine claims was fired at President Vladimir Putin’s residence, but Kiev has denied this.
Published January 5, 2026
After initially accepting the Kremlin’s explanation at face value, US President Donald Trump has now denied claims that Ukraine attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residence as the war escalates, saying he “does not believe there was an attack.”
President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night that “no one knew at the time” whether the reports about the alleged incident were accurate. He added that “something” happened near Putin’s residence, but that U.S. officials had reviewed the evidence and did not believe Ukraine had targeted it there.
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Ukraine immediately denied any involvement and accused Russia of carrying out a false flag operation to disrupt peace talks. The Russian government immediately said the incident would harden its stance on peace negotiations.
Reports of the attack came to light last week after Russia’s Defense Ministry released a video of a downed drone that Kiev allegedly fired at Putin’s official residence in the Novgorod region.
The ministry said there was no damage to the residence and that Putin was elsewhere at the time.
Along with Ukraine, its Western allies also vehemently disputed that the attack occurred in the first place.
The attack claims come as Russia and Ukraine work to agree a cease-fire deal to end their nearly four-year war.
European leaders are scheduled to meet in France on Tuesday for further talks on a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying it is “90% ready.” Territorial issues over whether to cede land conquered in war remain at the heart of the issue.
First civilian death in Kyiv in 2026
Ukrainian authorities reported on Monday morning that two people were killed in an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region, the first casualties in the capital in 2026.
According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Services Agency, the Russian attack set fire to a medical facility where an inpatient ward was operated in Ovoronsky district, north of Kiev.
According to police, the body was discovered inside after the fire was extinguished. A woman was also injured and 25 people were evacuated, the Telegram added.
Governor Mykola Kalashnik said on Telegram that towns and villages in the Kiev region were also affected, with critical infrastructure hit and a man in his 70s killed in the Fastiv district, southwest of the capital.
Kalashnik added that a small number of areas in the region remain without power.
Russia has not yet commented on the night attack.
