Thu Jan 01 23:05:35 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting a presidential residence in the Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones. To support this claim, a senior Russian military official presented a U.S. military attache with a drone fragment, claiming its data proves the Ukrainian military’s involvement. Ukraine has denied the accusations, calling it a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at disrupting relations with the U.S. The U.S. response has been mixed, with initial sympathy from President Trump shifting towards skepticism. This incident has further complicated ongoing negotiations between Russia and the U.S. regarding the war in Ukraine.
News Article:
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Attack on Presidential Residence, Presents “Evidence” to U.S.
MOSCOW – January 2, 2026 – Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated following Russia’s accusation that Ukraine attempted to strike a presidential residence in the Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones.
According to a statement released by the Russian Defence Ministry, the alleged attack took place earlier this week. Russia claims it will now re-evaluate its negotiating stance in peace talks with the United States regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Adding fuel to the fire, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces, presented a U.S. military attache with what he described as the controlling mechanism of a downed drone. In a video released by the Ministry, Kostyukov asserted that the drone’s navigation controller’s data irrefutably proves the complex of buildings of the Russian president’s residence in Novgorod region as the intended target.
Ukraine has vehemently denied the charges, dismissing them as a disinformation campaign designed to undermine its relationship with the United States, especially after a recent meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Trump.
The response from Washington has been mixed. President Trump initially expressed sympathy for Russia’s position, but later appeared more skeptical.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that U.S. 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.
The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as the U.S. assesses the evidence presented by Russia. This latest incident has cast a shadow over ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine.
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