EU Rejects Russian Claims of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Government Sites

The European Union’s top diplomat has rejected Russia’s claims that Ukraine attempted a drone attack on Russian government sites, calling the allegations a deliberate attempt to disrupt ongoing peace efforts.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on social media that Moscow’s accusations should not be taken seriously, describing them as a “deliberate distraction” by the aggressor.
“No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians,” Kallas said, in an apparent reference to Russia’s allegation that Ukraine attempted to strike one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences.
Earlier this week, the Kremlin claimed that Ukrainian drones targeted Putin’s private home near Lake Valdai in north-west Russia, warning that the alleged incident could affect Moscow’s participation in peace negotiations. Russian officials and state media escalated the rhetoric, with some lawmakers describing the supposed attack as a direct strike against the Russian state.
Russia’s defence ministry later released what it described as evidence, including a map allegedly showing drone flight paths from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions and footage of a downed unmanned aerial vehicle. However, the BBC said it could not independently verify the material, and analysts noted that the drone components shown were widely available and could not be conclusively linked to Ukraine’s military.
Ukraine has firmly denied the allegations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi dismissed Russia’s evidence as “laughable,” while President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to undermine a US-led peace process that he said was showing signs of progress.
Zelensky warned that the claims could be used as a pretext for further Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Although air raid alerts briefly sounded in the capital overnight, no damage was reported. Instead, Russian drone strikes hit multiple regions, including Odesa, where an apartment building was damaged and several civilians, including children, were injured.
The allegations emerged as US, European, and Ukrainian officials intensified diplomatic efforts to end the war. Talks involving advisers from the United States, the UK, France, and Germany took place this week, focusing on security guarantees and mechanisms to prevent renewed conflict.
While Ukraine has expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations, European leaders have warned that any peace deal will ultimately require Russian cooperation—something that now appears increasingly uncertain.