Russia for the first time released images of UAV corpses believed to have been deployed by Ukraine when it raided President Putin’s residence in Novgorod.
On December 31, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a related video accusing Ukraine of using more than 90 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region on the night of December 28. Video taken at night shows the body of the downed UAV lying on the snowy ground in the forest.
RT said that this UAV carries 6 kg of explosives, stuffed with many materials to increase damage. The Russian Ministry of Defense described this as one of 91 UAVs that carried out a “targeted, carefully planned and deployed in many stages” attack, but did not cause damage to the Presidential residence.
Russia did not reveal where Mr. Putin was at that time, saying the President’s whereabouts are usually kept secret. The Russian Ministry of Defense also published the testimony of a local witness, residing in the settlement of Roshchino, who confirmed that he witnessed air defense activity on the night of December 28.
Close-up of the UAV that Russia said was deployed by Ukraine in the attack on President Putin’s residence on the night of December 28. Video: Ministry of Defense of Russia
The Russian Ministry of Defense later also published a map showing the flight path of long-range UAVs, launched from multiple locations in Ukraine, flying over the Russian provinces of Bryansk, Smolensk and Tver before heading to Novgorod.
According to the Russian side, all 91 UAVs were shot down before reaching the mansion, of which 49 were shot down in the airspace of Bryansk, one in Smolensk province and 41 in Novgorod province.
This agency affirmed that this was “irrefutable evidence of a terrorist attack planned by the Kiev government against the Russian President’s residence”. Moscow accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of “either not understanding the actual situation, or intentionally lying” when Kiev denied the accusations.
Russia released a map of the flight paths of UAVs targeting Novgorod on the night and early morning of December 28-29. Image: Ministry of Defense of Russia
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not explain why the UAV wreckage video and flight route map were only released nearly three days after the alleged raid occurred. The agency also did not release evidence of other downed UAVs.
Western experts had also previously expressed skepticism about Russia’s accusations about the raid. Grace Mappes, an expert at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the US, said that normally when Ukraine carries out a raid deep into Russian territory, there will be “information from people and local authorities about UAVs or debris” when they are shot down in airspace. These fragments, when falling to the ground, often cause explosions or large fires.
But on Russian social networks on December 29, there were no videos showing UAVs flying in the sky or air defense systems activating, nor images of fires, columns of smoke or loud explosions at specifically identified locations in Novgorod province.
Observers also point out that Ukraine has absolutely no benefit in conducting such a raid, especially in the current situation, when US President Donald Trump is trying to promote negotiations with President Putin to find a solution to the war.