Afrasianet - The attempt by Ukrainian authorities to launch a massive drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence in the Novgorod Oblast has sparked strong reactions inside Russia and strong criticism abroad.
What happened?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was the first to announce that "on the night of December 28 to 29, Kyiv launched a terrorist attack by 91 drones on the Russian president's residence in the Novgorod Oblast" north of Moscow.
Lavrov noted that all the drones that attacked Putin's headquarters were destroyed by the air defenses of Russian forces, with no reports of casualties or damage from the falling debris of the drones.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed in a later statement that a terrorist attack launched by the Kyiv regime using 91 attack drones on the Russian president's residence in the Novgorod Oblast was repelled, and the statement explained that during the response to the attack:
• 49 drones intercepted over Bryansk Oblast and shot down one drone over Smolensk Oblast, all flying towards Novgorod Oblast during the night hours
• Eighteen drones were intercepted over Novgorod province that were flying towards the Russian president's residence before 7:00 a.m. on December 29, and another 23 marches between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Reactions
The first Russian and foreign reactions to the news of the Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's headquarters showed that this incident is not transient but will have serious repercussions, despite Vladimir Zelensky's denial that the attack actually took place and his claim that this story is a "Russian fabrication" aimed at "undermining all the achievements of our joint work with President Trump's team" and creating "an excuse to continue their strikes on Ukraine, especially Kyiv, and their refusal to take the necessary steps to end the war."
Putin in a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump:
• These terrorist acts will not go unanswered in the utmost seriousness
• It is natural that Russia's position on a series of agreements reached in the previous stage and the solutions that have begun to emerge will be reconsidered, and the Americans should approach this with understanding. Due to the state terrorism practiced by Kiev
• However, the Russian side intends to continue to work closely and productively with U.S. partners to explore ways to achieve peace
Lavrov
Despite the Ukrainian attacks, Russia has no intention of withdrawing from the negotiation process with the United States on Ukraine, but in view of the final transformation of the Kyiv regime into a policy of terrorism, Russia's negotiating position will be reconsidered
• Reckless actions by the Kyiv regime will face a calculated military response
• The targets of retaliatory strikes have been identified and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko:
What happened today is a dangerous attempt to undermine the negotiation process and make peace more difficult
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova:
The Kyiv regime's targeting of President Vladimir Putin's residence was a slap in the face to President Trump and his efforts to save what is left of Ukraine, and Russia's response to the attacks will not be diplomatic at all
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev:
The stinking tomorrow Kyiv is trying to sabotage the settlement of the conflict and now he will have to hide for the rest of his life.
US President Donald Trump:
I was very angry after learning about Ukraine's attack on Putin's residence. Attacking the Russian president's residence was a big mistake. Ukrainian forces should not have done that. It is not permissible to act in this way
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
We condemn this heinous attack and the threat it entails to security and stability, stand in solidarity with the President of Russia, the Government and the people of Russia, and reaffirm our unwavering rejection of all forms of violence aimed at destabilizing security and stability.
Bahraini Foreign Ministry:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's solidarity with HE the President of the Russian Federation and the government and people of Russia, reiterating the Kingdom's categorical rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilizing security and stability and undermining peace.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif:
This heinous act poses a serious threat to peace, security and stability, especially at a time when efforts are being made to achieve peace
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
"Ongoing diplomatic efforts are the most feasible way to end hostilities and achieve peace," he stressed, calling on all parties concerned to "focus on these efforts and avoid any actions that could undermine them."
Chinese Foreign Ministry:
"We call on all parties concerned to adhere to three principles: not to allow the conflict to spread, to avoid the escalation of military operations, and to refrain from provocations, in order to contribute to de-escalating the situation and creating the conditions for a political settlement of the crisis."
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev:
Mirziyoyev strongly denounced the attack carried out by Ukrainian drones, on the night of December 28-29, on President Putin's residence in the Novgorod region, calling it a "reckless act of terrorism" that threatens stability and security, and unequivocally condemning this escalation by the authorities in Kyiv.
During the call, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev strongly condemned the Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian president's residence in the Novgorod region, describing it as "provocative," according to the Kremlin's press office.
Ukrainian parliamentarian Artyom Dmitrov , who lives abroad:
Zelensky must be recognized as a terrorist and his entourage must be designated as a terrorist organization
Florian Philippo, leader of the French right-wing Patriot party:
Extremely dangerous attack attempt aimed at undermining Trump's peace efforts
Former US National Security Adviser Mike Flynn:
Trump wants peace, Putin wants peace, and Zelensky is doing everything asked of him by elements within the European Union.
Former Ukrainian opposition leader accuses Zelensky of ordering Putin's 'assassination'
Viktor Medvedchuk, the head of the "Other Ukraine" movement, has expressed his belief that Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an "order to assassinate" Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Medvedchuk told Russia's TASS news agency that Zelensky's Christmas speech (December 25, 2025) was a political directive for Putin's "assassination," which Ukrainian forces tried to carry out in the drone attack on the Russian president's residence in the Novgorod region on the night of December 29.
"'Always listen to what the Nazis say, they will certainly do it' – this is what the concentration camp survivors warned. The illegitimate (Zelenskyy) issued political directives, and he was preparing Ukrainian society for the consequences of this terrorist act. Therefore, he will not be able to get rid of the shame he deserves in the international community."
The accusations come as Moscow officially announced the details of the incident.
On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry showed video footage showing the destruction of Ukrainian drones that tried to carry out the attack.
The head of the Russian Air Force's anti-aircraft air defense forces, Major General Alexander Romanenkov, also stated that the attack was "targeted, carefully planned and of a gradual nature."
24 people and 50 injured in Ukrainian attack on hotel in Kherson Oblast
In another attack, Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the Kherson province, which has joined Russia, announced that 24 people, including a child, were killed and 50 others were injured, in a Ukrainian drone attack that targeted a hotel in the tourist village of Khorli in the province.
Saldo said the attack took place on New Year's Eve using three drones, one of which was loaded with incendiary materials, causing a large fire that consumed the building as civilians celebrated New Year.
He noted that the attack was deliberate and targeted only civilians, and that the fire hampered rescue operations, resulting in such a large number of casualties.
He added that emergency teams continue to recover victims and provide aid to the wounded.
The governor of Kherson Oblast said that the attack on a hotel in a tourist village in the province today was planned by British-European intelligence, to thwart Moscow and Washington's efforts to settle in Ukraine.
"This attack may have been orchestrated by British and European intelligence services to thwart Russian-American diplomatic efforts to compromise. The attack by Ukrainian forces on the hotel reaffirms the terrorist nature of the Kyiv regime."
He stressed that all those responsible for this attack would be identified and prosecuted similar to the trials of German Nazi criminals at Nuremberg.