Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Kyiv conducted a drone attack on the Russian President’s residence in Novgorod. Lavrov mentioned that 91 long-range drones were used in the attack, all of which were intercepted by Russian air defense systems. He emphasized that this incident occurred during negotiations between Russia and the US regarding the Ukraine crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refuted the accusation, labeling it as a falsehood propagated by Russia. Zelensky expressed concerns that such allegations were a pretext for potential Russian strikes on Ukraine. He asserted that Ukraine remains committed to diplomatic solutions, contrasting Russia’s actions.
Lavrov affirmed that Russia had identified targets for potential retaliatory strikes but reiterated Moscow’s commitment to ongoing negotiations with the US. He warned that Russia would respond to such provocations. Zelensky dismissed the “residence strike” narrative as a fabrication, accusing Russia of undermining diplomatic efforts.
