Germany Reports: CIA says no attack by Kiev on Putin's residence
According to media reports, the US intelligence agency CIA has come to the conclusion that Ukraine has neither targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin nor attacked one of his residences. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, PBS and CNN, citing unnamed representatives of the US government. The US foreign intelligence service is thus contradicting serious accusations made by Moscow on Monday. Initially, President Donald Trump had also criticized Ukraine for the alleged attack following a conversation with Putin.
01.01.2026, 06:10
SDA
Meanwhile, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky welcomed the new year with very different expectations for the future. Fighting on the front and reciprocal drone attacks continued on New Year's Eve.
Russia presents alleged evidence of attack
Kiev has vehemently denied having attacked one of Putin's residences. Ukraine saw Moscow's claim as a Russian pretext to continue the war despite ongoing negotiations for a peace solution and to attack government buildings in Kiev once again.
Russia presented possible evidence of the attack for the first time on Wednesday, including the remains of a suspected Ukrainian drone. The Ukrainian foreign intelligence service spoke of forged maps and dummies. Many experts also doubt that the attack described by Russia actually took place.
Trump informed of findings by CIA chief
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials, that the controversial Ukrainian drone attack was aimed at a military target in the same region as Putin's residence - but not near the estate. This is also supported by an analysis by the CIA, it said.
PBS and CNN reported that Trump was briefed on Wednesday by CIA chief John Ratcliffe about the intelligence agency's findings. On the same day (local time), the US President then surprisingly shared an article highly critical of Russia on his Truth Social platform. In the commentary, the tabloid "New York Post" deals with "Putin's "attack" bluster" and describes the Kremlin leader as the real obstacle on the road to peace.
Among other things, it says that any attack on Putin is "more than justified". "We don't need his crocodile tears, instead the pressure should be increased". It argues that no further concessions should be made to Russia, but that tougher action is necessary.
Moscow spoke of a "terrorist attack" on Putin's residence
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke of an attempted "terrorist attack" on Monday. He spoke of 91 Ukrainian drones with a longer range that Russia's air defense had shot down. Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, later said that the Kremlin leader had informed Trump by telephone about an attempted Ukrainian drone attack against his presidential residence in the Novgorod region. The Kremlin hopes that the USA will understand that Russia is now reconsidering its position in the negotiations.
According to Russian media, the alleged target is Putin's Valdai residence, which is located in the Novgorod region between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Putin is said to often spend his weekends there with his family. However, the Kremlin guards his private life like a state secret. Various residences are available to the Russian president in many parts of the world's largest country in terms of area.
Putin's New Year's address: belief in victory
Putin was confident of victory in his New Year's address. "I congratulate our fighters and commanders on the start of the New Year! We believe in them and in our victory," said Putin, according to a text of the recorded video address published by state media.
Putin once again described the Russian soldiers, who Ukraine accuses of war crimes, as "heroes". There was no mention in the message of negotiations with the USA to end the war or the hope of many Russians for peace.
With the new year, Russia increased VAT in order to finance the war. The recently decided increase in the tax from 20 to 22 percent comes into effect today.
Selensky believes in peace
In his New Year's message, Zelensky emphasized his belief in peace. The past year had been characterized by "the loyalty and steadfastness, the principles and the daily work of Ukrainians", he announced on Facebook and the X platform.
We are now moving forward together "with what holds us together: Experience and memory, our mother tongue, hope and faith." He explained: "We believe in peace, fight for it and work for it."
Attacks also on New Year's Eve
Both Russia and Ukraine carried out drone attacks on their respective neighboring countries on New Year's Eve. Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that a combat drone was shot down shortly before midnight as it approached the capital. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced that dozens of Ukrainian drones had been shot down by the evening. In Kiev, an air alert was triggered shortly before the turn of the year due to swarms of drones approaching. According to media reports, power plants were hit again in the south of Odessa.
Witkoff discusses next steps with Europeans
US special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly discussed the next steps on the way to ending the war in Ukraine with Günter Sautter, foreign policy advisor to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), and other European representatives. Among other things, they discussed the strengthening of security guarantees and the development of "effective de-escalation mechanisms", Witkoff wrote on X. He described the phone call - as well as previous meetings - as "productive".
Ukraine has been defending itself against the war of aggression ordered by Putin against the neighboring country for almost four years with Western help.
