According to Lavrov, on the night of December 28 to 29, 2025, the regime in Kyiv carried out a terrorist attack, using 91 long-range strike drones against the state residence of the President of the Russian Federation in the Novgorod region.
The Russian air defense successfully destroyed all the drones, and no reports of casualties or damage from their debris were received.
Lavrov also noted that this attack occurred against the backdrop of active negotiations between Russia and the USA regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
The minister added that such actions would not go unanswered, and the Russian armed forces had already identified targets and timing for retaliatory strikes.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that Russia does not plan to cease negotiations with the United States, although due to Kyiv's actions, its position will be reconsidered, as the regime in Ukraine has resorted to the practice of state terrorism.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 91 drones were shot down: 41 over the Novgorod region, 49 over Bryansk, and one over Smolensk.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Vladimir Putin informed US President Donald Trump about the situation during a phone call on December 29. Ushakov noted that Trump was shocked and outraged by the claim that Ukraine attacked Putin's residence, adding that he could not even imagine "such insane actions."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Lavrov's statements, calling them lies, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
Zelensky also noted that Russia is trying to create a basis for future attacks on government buildings in Kyiv.
"This is yet another lie from the Russian Federation. It is obvious that we had a meeting with Trump yesterday, and for the Russians, if there is no scandal between us, it is a failure, as they do not want to end the war," Zelensky emphasized.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga added that Russia "fabricated" this story with the sole purpose of creating a pretext for new attacks on Ukraine and undermining the peace process.
He also noted that Ukraine conducts strikes only against legitimate military targets in Russia in response to attacks on its territory.
