RT.com
01 Jan 2026, 19:59 GMT+10
Russian experts have extracted navigational data from one of the downed UAVs, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said
The flight plan of a Ukrainian drone shot down in Novgorod Region early on Monday proves that its intended target was the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.
All 91 long-range UAVs which Kiev launched at the presidential compound on the night of December 28-29 were destroyed, according to the Russian military.
The experts were able to extract a file with the flight plan from the navigation system of one of the downed drones, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The decryption of the data "revealed that the final target of the Ukrainian UAV... was one of the facilities of the Russian presidential residence in Novgorod Region," it said.
The information collected from the drone will be shared with the US through established channels, according to the statement.
On Wednesday, the ministry published a video of a downed Ukrainian-made Chaklun-V UAV that had been used in the failed attack. It was struck in the tail-end by Russian air defenses and remained mostly intact, which is a "unique" occurrence, it stressed.
The same day, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed American officials, that the US national security team currently believes that Kiev wasn't trying to strike Putin's residence, and was attempting to hit a military target also located in Novgorod Region. The conclusion was supported by a CIA assessment that found no attempted attack on the Russian leader, the outlet's sources claimed.
The drone raid came shortly after US President Donald Trump indicated that the Ukraine peace process was nearing its conclusion, following his meeting with Vladimir Zelensky and a phone call with Putin on Sunday. Trump said on Monday that he was "very angry" about the incident, particularly since it came during "a delicate period of time."
READ MORE: Russian MOD releases VIDEO of drone Ukraine used in attack on Putin residence
Russian authorities have condemned the attack as an act of "state terrorism" and promised a response. They also pointed out that the Ukrainian drone raid was not only aimed against Putin, but also "against President Trump's efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."
Get a daily dose of St Petersburg Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to St Petersburg Star.
More InformationPALM BEACH, Florida: While acknowledging that the disputed Donbas region remains a key unresolved issue, U.S. President Donald Trump...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The Trump administration's decision to impose travel bans on five Europeans has been met with the expected anger...
Russian experts have extracted navigational data from one of the downed UAVs, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said ...
Keith Kellogg will step down from his post sometime in January, according to Reuters US President Donald Trump has branded his special...
Hong Kong, January 1 (ANI): Chairman Xi Jinping continues to invest heavily in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), as China's military...
The latest Ukrainian drone strike on Kherson Region has claimed the lives of at least two dozen people, including a minor ...
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh's first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, passed away after a prolonged illness. She was 80. Zia...
TEHRAN, Iran: Huge numbers of Iranians took to the streets on December 29, in the largest protest seen in the country, following the...
BEIJING, China: Delivering a stern warning against any attempts toward Taiwanese independence, China's military stationed army, naval,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: With the Trump administration focusing on fraud investigations against Minnesota's Somali immigrants, the FBI Director...
PALM BEACH, Florida: While acknowledging that the disputed Donbas region remains a key unresolved issue, U.S. President Donald Trump...
PALM BEACH, Florida: After weeks of legal challenges and political pushback, the White House is preparing to formally outline its plans...
