A chilling nighttime video emerged from Russia’s Defense Ministry, purportedly showcasing the remnants of a Ukrainian drone downed during an alleged attempt to strike a residence associated with President Vladimir Putin. The footage depicts a snow-laden forest scene, a lone Russian soldier standing guard over scattered debris identified by Moscow as belonging to a Chaklun-V drone.
Officials claim the drone was intercepted before reaching Putin’s lakeside residence near Valdai, carrying a six-kilogram explosive payload that thankfully failed to detonate. This announcement arrived amidst growing doubts surrounding Russia’s version of events, fueling a tense atmosphere of disbelief and scrutiny.
However, U.S. national security officials have cast significant doubt on the Russian narrative. Assessments, including one from the CIA, suggest no attack on Putin or his residences actually occurred. Intelligence points towards Ukraine targeting a known military site in the region, a location previously struck, but far from Putin’s personal property.
Ukrainian officials vehemently deny any involvement, dismissing the claims as unfounded. A drone expert, Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, analyzed the released footage and found it lacking in concrete evidence. He stated the video simply showed wreckage and a soldier, offering no proof of an intended assault on a heavily fortified location.
Chell further questioned the drone’s capabilities, noting its small engines and slow speed would render it ineffective for such a high-profile mission. He characterized the drone as suitable for infrastructure targets, but wholly inadequate for penetrating the security surrounding Putin’s residence. The drone’s design, he argued, simply didn’t align with the alleged objective.
Kyiv’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson labeled the footage “laughable,” reiterating their “absolute confidence” that no such attack ever took place. This strong denial underscores the deep distrust between the two nations and the escalating information war surrounding the conflict.
Russia initially claimed 89 drones were intercepted across multiple regions, later revising the number upwards. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov then asserted a staggering 91 drones were targeted at Putin’s residence, a figure that sharply contrasted with earlier reports. The Defense Ministry subsequently added 49 drones intercepted far away in Bryansk to the tally, also claiming they were headed for Valdai.
The timing of these allegations has raised eyebrows, appearing shortly after a reported positive meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy himself denounced the alleged drone attack as a “complete fabrication,” suggesting it was a deliberate attempt to justify further Russian aggression and sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Despite Ukraine’s denials, the Kremlin remains steadfast in its accusations, with a spokesperson stating Moscow will adopt a more assertive diplomatic approach. The conflicting narratives and shifting numbers paint a picture of a complex situation shrouded in uncertainty and fueled by mutual suspicion.
