Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports that the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin was allegedly targeted in an attack, urging all sides to exercise restraint and remain committed to diplomatic efforts.
In a post on X, PM Modi said he was “deeply concerned” by the developments and underlined that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most viable path towards ending hostilities. “Ongoing diplomatic efforts offer the most viable path toward ending hostilities and achieving peace. We urge all concerned to remain focused on these efforts and to avoid any actions that could undermine them,” he said.
Russia alleges drone attack on state residence
Russia has claimed that Ukraine launched a drone attack targeting President Putin’s state residence located between Moscow and St Petersburg. According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that 91 long-range drones were fired at the residence in the Novgorod region on December 28–29.
Lavrov said all the drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defence systems and described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. He further stated that Moscow would revise its negotiating position on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine and had already selected targets for what he called “retaliation strikes”.
Ukraine rejects claims, warns against escalation
Ukraine has firmly denied Russia’s allegations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the claims as fabricated, accusing Moscow of using the narrative to justify further attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.
“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine does not engage in actions that undermine diplomacy and urged the international community not to remain silent as efforts continue toward achieving a lasting peace.
Civilian impact grows amid winter hardship
Meanwhile, the humanitarian impact of the conflict continues to deepen. For the third consecutive day following recent Russian air attacks, residents of Vyshhorod, a satellite town about 20 km north of Kyiv, have been facing prolonged power cuts. With night-time temperatures dropping to around minus 3 degrees Celsius, families have been relying on a small shelter equipped with heating and electricity to charge devices and stay connected.
As global leaders, including India, call for restraint and dialogue, the situation on the ground underscores the urgency of diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation and civilian suffering.