A senior Russian official issued direct threats to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, following Moscow’s claim that Ukrainian forces carried out a drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin’s official residences in the Novgorod region on the night of December 29, reports Baltimore Chronicle. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the allegation without providing any evidence, while Zelenskyy quickly dismissed it as part of a Russian disinformation campaign.
Former Russian President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves on the Security Council, posted on X accusing Zelenskyy of attempting to obstruct ongoing U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations. Medvedev wrote that Zelenskyy “wants war” and suggested the Ukrainian president might need to “stay in hiding for the rest of his worthless life.” In subsequent posts on Telegram, Medvedev, known for his hawkish stance during Moscow’s full-scale war in Ukraine, even hinted at Zelenskyy being “exhibited” in St. Petersburg following his “imminent demise.”
Kremlin aide Kiril Dmitriev, also CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a participant in talks with U.S. officials, questioned Zelenskyy’s future in social media posts, asking, “Who is after Zelenskyy?” The Kremlin confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed on the alleged attack during a Monday phone call with Putin, with Russian officials warning of retaliatory strikes against Ukraine.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin, told the state-run Tass news agency that Trump expressed surprise and anger over the alleged drone strike. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, Trump confirmed he was informed of Putin’s claims but noted he had not seen independent evidence and highlighted his decision not to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He said, “It’s one thing to be offensive because they’re offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that.” Trump added that it was possible the attack did not occur, while emphasizing that Putin had informed him of the incident.
Zelenskyy rejected the Russian account as “yet another lie,” asserting that Moscow’s statements likely serve to prepare the ground for strikes on Ukraine’s capital and government buildings. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also stated on X that Russia had not provided any credible evidence of the alleged attack and emphasized that “no such attack happened.”
The implications for ongoing peace talks remain uncertain. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the purported attack would lead to a “hardening of the Russian Federation’s negotiating position,” while asserting that Russia would not withdraw from negotiations. Lavrov confirmed that Russia’s negotiation participation would continue but added that the “targets and timing of Russia’s retaliatory strike” had already been determined.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that overnight into Tuesday, Russia launched two missiles and 60 drones, with Ukrainian forces intercepting or suppressing one missile and 52 drones. One missile and eight drones hit five locations across Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that four Ukrainian drones were shot down over the southern Krasnodar region on Tuesday morning. Local authorities reported two people sustained shrapnel injuries, and drone debris fell at a regional railway station. Rosaviatsiya, Russia’s federal air transport agency, implemented temporary flight restrictions at Krasnodar airport.
Earlier we wrote that white House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Announces Pregnancy With Second Child.
