Russia has reported a drone attack on Putin’s residence and announced preparations for a retaliatory strike

Ukraine allegedly tried to attack overnight with drones the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Novgorod Region.

This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Russia intends to deliver a retaliatory strike.

According to Lavrov, 91 unmanned aerial vehicles were launched during the attack, and air defenses shot them down. No information has been received about casualties or damage caused by drone debris.

“Russia will respond to Kyiv’s attack on the residence of the President of Russia; the targets and timing of Russia’s retaliatory strike after the attack on Putin’s state residence have been determined,” the Russian foreign minister said.

At the same time, he noted that “Russia’s negotiating position will be revised in view of the Kyiv regime’s final transition to a policy of state terrorism.”

“We draw attention to the fact that this action was carried out amid intensive negotiations between Russia and the United States on settling the Ukrainian conflict. Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,” Lavrov assured.

At the same time, Moscow does not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process itself.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies an attack on Putin’s residence and reports that Russia is preparing strikes on government buildings in Kyiv. He called Lavrov’s statement “fake.”

This turn of events suggests that the Kremlin has decided to apply additional coercive measures against Zelensky to make him meet the conditions for ending the war demanded by Russia (and, according to media reports, by U.S. President Donald Trump), including the withdrawal of troops from Donbas. The question is what these measures will be—that is, what the retaliatory strike announced by Lavrov will look like, and how exactly Russia’s negotiating position will change. It is also unknown whether Trump will join in putting pressure on Zelensky.