CloseDonald Trump denied that Ukraine targeted Russian president Vladimir Putin’s residence last week, days after saying news of the drone attack had left him "very angry".
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said that while “something happened nearby”, US officials did not find Putin's residence was targeted specifically.
“I don't believe that strike happened," he said. European officials claimed Moscow had made the allegation to undermine peace efforts.
Last week, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine had fired a wave of drones at Putin’s residence in northwestern Novgorod region.
As Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange attacks in the new year, Kyiv recorded its first civilian casualty of 2026 in the early hours of Monday.
The Russian defence ministry accused Ukraine of targeting Moscow with drones every day of 2026 so far, saying this was an escalation from sporadic attacks on the Russian capital.
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Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire at industrial zone in Russia's Lipetsk
A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire in an industrial zone in the town of Yelets in Russia’s Lipetsk region, the regional governor reported this morning.
No immediate casualties have been reported so far.
Yelets is home to the Energiya battery plant, a major producer of batteries and accumulators for Russia’s defence industry, which Ukraine said it has hit in the past.
Who is Kyrylo Budanov? The new Ukraine chief of staff chosen by Zelensky
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed General Kyrylo Budanov, the country’s military intelligence chief, as his new chief of staff.
This significant change comes at a particularly critical juncture in Russia's nearly four-year invasion.
General Budanov replaces Andrii Yermak, president Zelensky’s long-standing aide, who resigned in November.
Yermak’s departure followed an anti-corruption raid on his apartment, investigating alleged graft in Ukraine's energy sector.
The removal of such a powerful figure was considered a blow to the president, potentially jeopardising his negotiating strategy amidst US peace efforts.
Here’s what you need to know about Budanov:
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General Budanov replaces Andrii Yermak, President Zelensky’s long-standing aide, who resigned in NovemberArpan Rai5 January 2026 05:06
A ceasefire in Ukraine would be fraught with danger for the whole of Europe
For Ukraine, there is little reason to think that 2026 will not continue the pattern set by 2025: the war will grind on, because the repeated promises that peace is near are based on little more than blind optimism and a desperate need to pander to Donald Trump’s fantasies.
Russia will continue to try to secure through diplomatic means what it has failed to conquer in 11 years of war, and its key tool for doing so will continue to be Donald Trump. Three times during 2025, Trump blindsided Europe’s leaders by attempting to coerce Ukraine into accepting Russia’s demands under the guise of a ceasefire agreement.
On each occasion, the worst danger was averted following a transatlantic diplomatic scramble, as European leaders dropped everything to try to roll back some of the damage. It may seem like a repetitive cycle, but on each occasion, Russia improves its position.
If a ceasefire is achieved in 2026, Keir Giles asks: at what cost?
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Despite Zelensky and Trump’s optimistic talk of an ongoing ‘peace process’ Putin seems only too happy to continue waging war in Ukraine. And if a ceasefire is achieved in 2026, Keir Giles asks: at what cost?Arpan Rai5 January 2026 04:53
Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow daily in new year, Russia says
Ukraine has targeted Moscow with drones every day of 2026 so far, Russia’s defence ministry has claimed.
By midnight on Sunday, Russian air defence systems had destroyed 57 drones over the Moscow region and 437 over the country in total, the ministry said, adding that the daily attacks marked an escalation from more sporadic attacks on the Russian capital.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported multiple interceptions since New Year’s Eve without giving further details.
Russia typically reports only how many drones its air defences downed, not how many Ukraine launched, and rarely discloses the full extent of damage unless civilians are killed or civilian sites hit.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Kyiv has increasingly used long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia. It says such attacks aim to disrupt military logistics and energy infrastructure, raise costs for Moscow’s war effort and respond to repeated Russian missile and drone attacks.
Did Ukraine launch 91-drone attack on Putin’s presidential residence – or is it a Russian show for Trump?
Russia’s claim that Ukraine launched a 91-drone strike on Vladimir Putin’s personal residence has threatened to derail months of talks over a peace deal to end Moscow’s invasion.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has called the claims a “complete fabrication” intended to lay the groundwork for future strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine.
“I am sure they are simply preparing the ground for strikes, probably on the capital, probably on government buildings,” he said.
From a technical standpoint, Ukraine does have the weapons to launch an attack on Putin’s presidential residence using strike drones and missile systems, according to Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian military and security analyst for the Information Resistance group.
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Trump dismisses Kremlin claim Ukraine targeted Putin residence
President Donald Trump said US officials had determined that Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian president Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week, disputing a Kremlin claim that he had initially greeted with deep concern.
Trump said "something happened nearby" but Americans officials didn't find the Russian president's residence was targeted.
“I don't believe that strike happened," Trump told reporters. "We don't believe that happened, now that we've been able to check.”
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Ukraine had launched a wave of drones at Putin's residence in the northwestern Novgorod region that the Russian defence systems were able to defeat.
Lavrov also criticised Kyiv for launching the attack at a moment of intensive negotiations to end the war.
The allegation came just a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Trump in Florida on the US administration's 20-point plan aimed at ending the war. Zelensky had quickly denied the allegation.
Ukraine military says Russian strike on Kyiv kills civilian
A Russian air attack on Kyiv killed one civilian, Ukraine's military said this morning, in what appeared to be the first reported death in Russian strikes on the capital this year.
“One person has been killed so far as a result of the attack. The attack is continuing,” said Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration.
He said people were being evacuated from a building damaged in the attack in the Obolonskyi district, north of Kyiv's centre.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence forces were operating in the capital and urged residents to remain in shelters.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones during the nearly four-year-old war, saying it strikes military targets, while Ukraine says civilians and civilian infrastructure are often hit.
Arpan Rai5 January 2026 03:57
