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CIA assesses Ukraine was not targeting a Putin residence in drone attack, contrary to Kremlin claim: Report

The CIA found no evidence of an attack on Putin's Novgorod residence, contradicting Russian claims of up to 100 Ukrainian drones involved, officials said.

  • On January 1, 2026, the Central Intelligence Agency assessed there is no evidence Ukraine targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin or his residences, U.S. national security officials and media outlets reported.
  • On Dec 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged Ukraine tried to strike Putin's Novgorod residence, while the Russian Defence Ministry claimed intercepting 91 drones between Dec 27 and 28.
  • Moscow published video and maps showing downed drones, including a purported Chaklun-V drone with a 6kg explosive, while Novgorod residents and independent observers noted inconsistent Russian accounts and raised doubts.
  • Ukraine's briefing to EU delegations dismissed the allegation as disinformation meant to sabotage South Florida agreements, and John Ratcliffe briefed President Donald Trump, who shifted from initial sympathy to scepticism after U.S. intelligence updates.
  • U.S. and European assessments suggest U.S. intelligence agencies' findings support Kyiv's denial and strengthen European leaders and institutions' pushback, while Moscow said it would review and might harden its negotiating posture.
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U.S. intelligence services contradict Russia's claim of a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence. According to the CIA, a military base was hit. In Kiev, people are looking for normality despite war. Christoph Wanner reports.

·Dortmund, Germany
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Reuters broke the news in United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
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