Valdai Residents Dispute Claims of Ukrainian Drone Assault on Putins Residence

Residents of Valdai, a town in Russia’s Novgorod region, reported that they neither heard nor observed any signs of a significant drone strike during the night of Monday, despite official assertions that nearly 100 Ukrainian drones targeted President Vladimir Putin’s residence there.

Fourteen locals informed the independent news outlet Mozhem Obyasnit that they did not receive any text alerts regarding a potential drone threat and did not perceive any buzzing noises or explosions characteristic of a drone attack.

“One resident noted, ‘There was absolutely no noise that night, no blasts, nothing at all. If something like this had occurred, the entire town would be discussing it.’”

Putin’s residence in Valdai, called Dolgiye Borody, is situated to the northeast of the town, separated by Lake Valdai.

The residents mentioned to Mozhem Obyasnit that they typically notice when the Russian president comes to stay due to the significant helicopter traffic that accompanies his visits.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Ukrainian forces attempted a “massive” drone assault on Putin’s residence with 91 drones, all of which were reportedly intercepted by air defense systems.

The official report from the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that only 18 drones were downed over the Novgorod region during that night.

Lavrov indicated that the purported attack would lead Russia to reassess its negotiating stance regarding Ukraine, although he noted that Moscow does not intend to withdraw from discussions with the United States.

He also cautioned that the incident would elicit a response, revealing that Russian forces had already determined their targets and timing for counterstrikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Lavrov’s claims as “fabricated” and “highly dangerous,” asserting that Moscow was attempting to undermine diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and to rationalize ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

Shortly after Lavrov’s remarks, the White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had a “positive” phone call with Putin regarding Ukraine.

Trump subsequently criticized the alleged Ukrainian drone strike, suggesting it was “not the right time” given the ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.