Experts Question Russian Claims of Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence as U.S. Officials Dispute Targeting
MOSCOW — On New Year’s Eve, Russia’s Defense Ministry released nighttime footage purportedly showing the wreckage of a Ukrainian drone intercepted near President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region. The video depicts a Russian serviceman standing over debris claimed to be from a Ukrainian-made Chaklun-V drone, which Moscow said was carrying a six-kilogram explosive device that failed to detonate. However, the footage and Moscow’s narrative have been met with skepticism from defense experts and U.S. officials.
The drone was allegedly shot down before it could strike Putin’s residence near Lake Valdai, a location known for its heavy security. Despite the dramatic visuals, experts familiar with drone technology have dismissed the footage as inconclusive. Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly, a company that supplies drones to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied forces, told Fox News Digital that the video “does not offer proof of anything other than that there is a wrecked drone on the ground somewhere.”
“The engines on the drone in this new footage are very small, and though capable of multiple hours of flight with the type of fixed-wing drone displayed, it would be extremely slow and unsophisticated,” Chell said. He added that such drones are typically used for targeting infrastructure and would be “woefully ineffective” in an attack on a high-security facility like Putin’s residence.
Meanwhile, U.S. national security officials have concluded that Ukraine did not target Putin or any of his residences in the alleged drone incident. According to CIA assessments cited by The Wall Street Journal, the drone strikes on December 29 were aimed at a military site in the same region, not near the presidential complex. A U.S. official briefed on the intelligence said the findings indicate no attempted attack on Putin occurred.
Ukraine has consistently denied allegations of targeting Putin’s residence. The Ukrainian military has emphasized that its drone operations focus on military and infrastructure targets, not on high-profile political figures. This stance aligns with the skepticism voiced by defense experts regarding the capabilities of the drones shown in the Russian footage.
Satellite imagery confirms that Putin’s residential complex in Roshchino, Novgorod Region, is heavily fortified. The area’s security measures make any successful drone strike highly unlikely without detection or interception. The National Security Agency and other U.S. intelligence entities closely monitor such developments, adding weight to the conclusion that no direct attack on the president’s residence occurred.
The release of the video comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides engaging in a war of narratives as much as military conflict. Moscow’s attempt to portray the incident as a direct threat to Putin appears aimed at rallying domestic support and justifying further security measures.
As the conflict continues, the international community watches closely. The U.S. Department of State has reiterated its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty while cautioning against misinformation that could escalate tensions unnecessarily. Experts emphasize the importance of verifying claims through multiple intelligence sources rather than relying solely on state-released footage.
In the meantime, the drone footage remains a contested piece of evidence, with defense analysts urging caution in interpreting its implications. The incident highlights the complexities of modern warfare, where information and perception can be as strategically significant as physical strikes on the battlefield.
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