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Russia intercepts Ukrainian drones near Moscow on New Year's Eve
Russian air defense units downed five Ukrainian drones heading toward Moscow just before the New Year, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in Telegram updates that extended into early Thursday. Specialists inspected debris from the crash sites, but no casualties or damage were reported. The incident prompted temporary flight restrictions at Moscow's Domodedovo airport and other facilities in southern and central Russia, coinciding with President Vladimir Putin's preparations for his annual New Year's address.
This drone activity unfolds amid heightened tensions following disputed Russian claims earlier in the week. On Monday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones targeting Putin's residence in Valday, Novgorod region, about 400 kilometers northwest of Moscow. Russia insisted all were neutralized without harm.
Ukraine swiftly dismissed the accusations as fabrications. On Wednesday, US intelligence officials determined that Ukraine did not target Putin or his residences, multiple reports confirmed. CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed President Donald Trump on this assessment during a phone call, directly challenging Moscow's narrative of the alleged Monday attack.
The Wall Street Journal first detailed the CIA's findings, which uncovered no evidence supporting Russia's account. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled the Russian claims a "deliberate distraction" and baseless, accusing Moscow of sabotaging peace talks.
Trump initially voiced fury over Putin's assertion, telling reporters on Monday that he was "very angry" about it. By Wednesday, however, he appeared more doubtful, sharing a New York Post editorial on social media that criticized Russia for obstructing Ukraine peace efforts. The dispute arose days after Trump's cordial meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, which both sides called productive. Ukraine branded Russia's allegations a disinformation campaign aimed at straining US-Ukraine ties and undermining ongoing negotiations. Novgorod regional officials confirmed air defenses intercepted drones on Monday but did not link them to Putin's residence. Russia's Defense Ministry released video on Wednesday purporting to show wreckage from a downed Ukrainian drone, though its location and timing remain independently unverified.
