ISTANBUL

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Tuesday that Russia has failed to provide any credible evidence to support its claims of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a presidential residence in the Novgorod region.

"Almost a day passed, and Russia still hasn’t provided any plausible evidence to its accusations of Ukraine’s alleged 'attack on Putin’s residence.' And they won’t because there’s none. No such attack happened," Sybiha said in a statement on Telegram.

Sybiha expressed disappointment over statements from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, and Pakistan, which voiced concern over the reported incident.

He noted that these states "failed to issue any official statements when a real Russian missile struck the real Ukrainian government building on September 7, 2025."

"Russia has a long record of false claims—it’s their signature tactic," Sybiha added, citing Moscow's pre-2022 assertions that it would not enter Ukraine.

He warned that reacting to "unverified claims" only encourages further disinformation and "undermines the constructive peace process that has been advancing lately."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued that the incident "confirmed the terrorist nature" of the Kyiv administration and urged Western powers to question the regime they are "striving to protect."

He asserted in a statement issued by his ministry that "without the cessation of this criminal policy, negotiations aimed at achieving a reliable and durable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will not succeed."

The exchange occurs as international mediators, including US President Donald Trump, continue efforts to facilitate a ceasefire.

Trump reportedly expressed concern over the incident during a call with President Vladimir Putin, though he later noted the possibility that the attack "didn't take place."

Zelenskyy, on the other side, denied the claims, arguing the accusations seek to "undermine all achievements of our shared diplomatic efforts" with Trump's team and "justify additional attacks against Ukraine."