The Ukrainian government has categorically denied the Kremlin's version of a massive drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence and accused Moscow of a disinformation operation aimed at creating a political pretext to harden its stance in peace talks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga stated that Russia has provided no credible evidence to support its claim of an attack on a presidential residence in the Novgorod region. Ukrainian officials emphasize that this is not the first time Moscow has resorted to unproven accusations to harden its position. Nearly 24 hours after the initial accusation, the Kremlin continues to show no material evidence, images, drone wreckage, or technical documentation to corroborate the alleged incident. "Russia has yet to provide plausible evidence for its accusations," Sibiga stated, calling the episode a manipulative maneuver to fuel Russian propaganda and justify a political and military escalation. From Kyiv's perspective, the Novgorod episode fits this pattern of pressure. The goal, they say, is not to respond to a real threat but to create the political conditions necessary to block diplomatic progress and maintain a protracted war strategy. Sibiga also criticized the reactions of countries like the UAE, India, and Pakistan, which condemned the alleged attack without demanding evidence. Such pronouncements "only serve Russian propaganda" and undermine any serious attempt to advance toward a genuine peace process by validating unverified claims. The complete absence of evidence, the explicit refusal to present it, and the immediate announcement of a "hardening" of the negotiating position reinforce the hypothesis that this is a carefully calculated disinformation operation.
