ISW analysts refuted the attack on Putin's residence: no evidence found.

According to ТСН: The statements of the Russian leadership about an alleged assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin look like another element of the information war. Analysts investigated the situation regarding reports of an "attack" on the residence of the Kremlin head in Valdai and concluded that there is no real evidence of such an incident.

Lack of Evidence

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report states that any real attack by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory quickly appears on social media. Usually, videos with geolocation, footage of anti-aircraft defense operations, photographs of smoke or fires are published.

"In the case of the alleged strike near Putin's residence, the ISW did not register any such videos or messages confirming Lavrov's statement,"

the experts emphasize.

Furthermore, there were no comments from local officials or information in regional media about damages, which is unusual for real incidents. The Russian opposition publication Sota conducted a survey among Valdai residents, who had not heard of the anti-aircraft defense operating that night.

Inconsistency of Testimonies

Another proof of the falsity of the statements is the confusion in the testimonies of Russian officials. The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Lavrov spoke about the attack of 89 (according to other data — 91) drones, while the official reports of the Russian Ministry of Defense indicated only 47 shot down drones on the night of December 29 in various regions. None of them were shot down over the Novgorod region, where Valdai is located.

"Lavrov's statements do not coincide with the data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, undermining the credibility of the assertion,"

ISW emphasizes.

Technical Doubts

Experts also question the technical feasibility of an unnoticed breakthrough of such a number of drones to one of the most guarded sites in Russia. Since 2022, Russia has significantly strengthened the defense of Valdai, increasing the number of air defense systems from two to twelve units.

Analysts believe that a successful strike could only occur under conditions of "miracles" or "deliberate connivance of military command," which seems unlikely.

Reaction of Zelensky and American Criticism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately reacted to Moscow's accusations, calling them "another lie from the Russian Federation." He expressed the opinion that Lavrov is fabricating an "attack on Putin" to justify possible terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelensky also called on Western partners to increase pressure on Moscow to force it to end the war.

Let us not forget about the reaction in the U.S., where President Donald Trump was criticized for his attitude towards Russia's statements. U.S. Congressman Don Bacon urged Trump to verify facts before making public conclusions, noting that the Kremlin has repeatedly spread false information. Trump acknowledged that he has no confirmed evidence of such an attack and admits that it may not have happened.

Moscow's statements about the attack on Putin, as well as the reaction of other world leaders, emphasize the ongoing political tension and the complex situation in Ukraine. Analysts believe that such statements may be attempts to distract public attention from Russia's internal problems and also justify further aggressive actions against Ukraine.