Russia’s Defense Ministry released footage on December 31 purporting to show a Ukrainian drone intercepted en route to President Vladimir Putin’s residence, alleging the aircraft was carrying a six-kilogram high-explosive payload.

According to Russian officials, the drone was brought down before reaching its intended destination near the Valdai area, a region known to host one of the Russian president’s residences. The ministry claimed the incident was part of a broader wave of drone activity and framed the interception as a serious attempted strike on senior leadership.

The released video, lasting under a minute, shows Russian troops inspecting an intact drone in a snowy forest environment. Officials emphasized what they described as damaging elements of the payload, presenting the footage as evidence of hostile intent and a successful defensive response.

However, the claims have been met with skepticism outside of Russia. Western intelligence assessments cited by U.S. and European officials reportedly found no confirmation that the drone was targeting President Putin or his residence. Analysts noted inconsistencies between Moscow’s assertions and observable evidence, including the lack of reported explosions, damage, or emergency activity in the Valdai area.

Local residents in the region reported no visible signs of an attack or heightened security incident. Additionally, questions have been raised about the scale of the alleged threat, as Russian officials stated that dozens of drones were intercepted nationwide while only a single drone appeared in the released footage.

The incident underscores the ongoing information war surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, where battlefield developments and security claims are frequently accompanied by competing narratives. While Moscow has portrayed the event as a foiled assassination attempt, outside observers caution that such claims should be viewed in the context of propaganda and psychological operations aimed at shaping domestic and international perceptions.