By Ayomide Otitoju
Russia ended 2025 amid renewed accusations from Ukraine that Moscow is conducting an information campaign aimed at avoiding peace talks and prolonging the war, despite heavy casualties and limited territorial gains.
On December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that Ukraine attempted to assassinate President Vladimir Putin by launching a drone attack on his state residence at Lake Valdai in the Novgorod region. Lavrov claimed that 91 long-range drones targeted the residence and were intercepted by Russian air defence systems.
Ukraine swiftly rejected the accusation. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow had provided no credible evidence to support its claim, insisting that no such attack took place. “They won’t provide evidence because there is none,” he said.
Russia later released photographs showing drone debris in the snow, but independent observers said the images could not verify the location, origin or timing of the alleged incident. Russian opposition outlet Sota described the claim as likely fabricated, citing accounts from Valdai residents who reported no air defence activity on the night in question. The outlet also noted that Valdai is surrounded by heavily protected military airspace, making such an attack highly improbable.
Lavrov’s statement also appeared to contradict earlier reports from Russia’s Defence Ministry, which initially said 41 drones were intercepted in the Novgorod region, before later revising the figure and adding interceptions in Bryansk and Smolensk—regions hundreds of kilometres from Valdai.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the alleged attack lacked the usual indicators of Ukrainian strikes, such as verified footage, local official statements or widespread social media evidence, which have accompanied confirmed Ukrainian operations elsewhere in Russia.
The timing of the claim drew further scrutiny, coming a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded talks with US President Donald Trump in Florida. Following the meeting, Trump pledged that US forces would participate in Ukraine’s security arrangements after any peace agreement—marking the first such commitment by Washington. The development raised optimism among some European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, that the war could end in early 2026.
Lavrov later said Russia would “review its negotiating position,” dampening hopes of imminent talks. On the same day, Putin ordered Russian forces to intensify efforts to seize the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of the Zaporizhia region, three-quarters of which are already under Russian control.
Zelenskyy accused Moscow of seeking a pretext to escalate the conflict and undermine diplomatic progress. “Russia is again using dangerous statements to derail our shared efforts,” he said.
US officials offered mixed reactions. Trump said he was angered by the alleged attack but questioned its timing, while US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expressed scepticism. The Wall Street Journal later reported that US intelligence had concluded Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence.
As the year ended, both sides continued to trade claims over battlefield gains. Russia asserted it had captured large swathes of territory in 2025, figures disputed by independent analysts and Ukraine, which reported heavy Russian losses for minimal advances. Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities continued, with Kyiv reporting more than 1,000 drones and 33 missiles launched in the final week of the year, most of which were intercepted.
The competing narratives underscored persistent mistrust and uncertainty as the war headed into 2026, with prospects for peace talks remaining fragile.
