The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has publicly denounced Moscow's assertions that Ukraine targeted Russian government sites as a calculated distraction aimed at undermining the ongoing peace process. Kallas's remarks came in response to the Kremlin's allegations that Ukraine had attempted a drone strike on one of Vladimir Putin's residences. In her statement on social media, Kallas emphasized, "No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians."
Earlier this week, Russian officials accused Ukraine of launching an attack on Putin's private home located on Lake Valdai in north-west Russia. The Kremlin indicated that these claims would prompt a reevaluation of its stance in the ongoing peace negotiations. Since Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov first made these assertions, Russian state media and politicians have escalated the rhetoric surrounding the alleged attack, with Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defense committee, declaring, "The attack is a strike on the heart of Russia. After what Ukraine has done, there can be no forgiveness."
Initially, the Kremlin suggested it had no intention of providing proof of the alleged drone strike. However, on Wednesday, the Russian military released what they claimed was evidence of the attack, including a map purporting to show the drones were launched from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine. Additionally, they shared a video of a downed drone surrounded by snowy woodland, with a serviceman claiming it was a Ukrainian Chaklun drone.
The BBC has been unable to verify the authenticity of the footage, and the exact location of the incident remains unclear. Although the wrecked drone resembles Ukrainian-produced Chakluns, its components are inexpensive and widely available, making it impossible to definitively link them to the Ukrainian military. Furthermore, Russia's defense ministry released a video featuring a local resident who reported hearing a rocket-like noise during the alleged attack. However, a Russian investigative media outlet reported that over a dozen residents near Putin's residence heard nothing indicating that 91 drones had approached or been intercepted by air defenses. One local stated, "If something like that had happened, the whole city would have been talking about it."
A spokesperson for Ukraine's foreign ministry dismissed Russia's claims as laughable, asserting that they were not even serious about fabricating the story. Heorhii Tykhyi told Reuters, "They are not serious even about fabricating the story." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vehemently denied the allegations, suggesting they were intended to derail the ongoing U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. Recently, American and Ukrainian delegations have been collaborating closely, and Zelensky expressed cautious optimism that Ukraine's demands would be acknowledged.
In his view, the claims regarding the drone attack on Putin's residence were linked to the positive developments in negotiations over the past month, including a recent meeting with President Trump. Zelensky stated, "Russia wanted to disrupt the positive momentum between the U.S. and Ukraine." He further warned that the alleged drone strike could be used as a pretext for Russia to escalate its attacks on Kyiv and Ukrainian government buildings.
In the early hours of Wednesday, air alerts sounded in Kyiv as a drone approached; however, there were no reports of hits or damage. In contrast, multiple locations across Ukraine faced drone strikes, with Odesa on the Black Sea experiencing a significant attack that resulted in damage to an apartment block and left six individuals injured, including three children. Over 170,000 residents were left without power as temperatures plummeted below freezing.
Odesa has been subjected to sustained attacks in recent weeks, with the intensity of the strikes seemingly increasing since Putin threatened to cut off Ukraine's access to the sea in retaliation for drone assaults on Russian tankers in the Black Sea. As the year draws to a close, many in Kyiv hold onto a singular hope for 2026: an end to the conflict. Mariya, a 26-year-old resident, expressed her hope, stating, "We want this to be over and to live as we did before. We have a very beautiful country with enormous potential."
As she spoke outside the golden-domed St. Sophia Monastery in Kyiv, nearby teenage carolers sang Christmas songs, collecting donations for the armed forces. "We all want victory to come in 2026. It's our united wish," one young caroler remarked. Zelensky has expressed a desire to resume and accelerate peace negotiations early in January, involving both American and European officials. However, any potential deal will ultimately require the cooperation of Russia, which currently appears unlikely, especially in light of the recent alleged drone incident.
As the New Year approaches, citizens like Mariya remain hopeful yet uncertain. "We truly hope so, but we can't say for certain. We are doing everything we can," she stated. Next to her, another woman named Ksenia gazed toward the sky, reflecting, "Really, only God knows."