Russia on Thursday claimed it had extracted and decoded data from a Ukrainian drone downed earlier this week, saying the information showed the drone had been targeting a Russian presidential residence
Russia on Thursday claimed it had extracted and decoded data from a Ukrainian drone downed earlier this week, saying the information showed the drone had been targeting a Russian presidential residence.
Moscow said it would share the findings with the United States.
On Monday, Russia accused Kyiv of attempting to strike a residence of President Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones.
Moscow said the incident would prompt a review of its negotiating stance in ongoing talks with the US aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Western officials have disputed Russia’s version of events.
“Decryption of routing data revealed that the final target of the Ukrainian drone attack on December 29, 2025, was a facility at the Russian Presidential Residence in the Novgorod region,” Reuters quoted Russia’s Defence Ministry as saying in a Telegram post.
“These materials will be transferred to the American side through the established channels,” it added.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that US national security officials had found Ukraine did not target Putin or one of his residences in a drone strike. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
US President Donald Trump initially expressed sympathy for the Russian charge, telling reporters on Monday that Putin had informed him of the alleged incident and that he was “very angry” about it.
By Wednesday, Trump appeared more sceptical, sharing on social media a New York Post editorial accusing Russia of blocking peace in Ukraine.
Ukraine has denied carrying out such an attack and described the accusation as part of a Russian disinformation campaign meant to drive a wedge between Kyiv and Washington after a weekend meeting between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
With inputs from agencies
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