Russia claims Oreshnik strike on Ukraine in retaliation for drone attack on Putin's residence

According to Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti, citing a statement from Russia's Ministry of Defense, the strike was a response to a "drone attack" on Putin's residence that Moscow alleges occurred on December 29.

The Russian side claims the attack targeted facilities related to drone production and energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex. 

"During the strike, Oreshnik missiles were used. Targets included drone production facilities used by Kyiv to attack Putin's residence on December 29, as well as energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex. The strike objectives were achieved," the Russian Defense Ministry stated.

Ukrainian Air Force confirms Russia's use of Oreshnik

The Ukrainian Air Force has confirmed that Russia attacked Ukraine with Oreshnik missiles. During the night, Russia launched an assault using strike drones and sea- and ground-based missiles, with the Kyiv region being the primary target.

Ukrainian radar troops detected and tracked 278 aerial assault assets, including 36 missiles and 242 drones of various types:

• 242 strike UAVs (Shahed-type, Geran, and other drone types) launched from Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Chauda and Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea, as well as Donetsk (approximately 150 of them were Shaheds);
• 13 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles (launched from Bryansk region, Russia);
• 22 Kalibr cruise missiles (from the Black Sea);
• 1 medium-range ballistic missile (from the Kapustin Yar test site in Astrakhan region, Russia).

According to sources cited by Espreso, the ballistic missile launched from Kapustin Yar was an RS-26 Rubezh medium-range missile, a modified version of which Russia calls Oreshnik.

Ukrainian Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups repelled the air attack. As of 9:00 a.m., air defense forces destroyed or suppressed 244 aerial targets, including 226 enemy drones, 8 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, and 10 Kalibr cruise missiles.

However, 18 missiles and 16 strike drones hit targets at 19 locations.

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that on the night of December 28-29, Ukraine allegedly attacked Vladimir Putin's residence in Novgorod region with 91 strike drones.

• That same day, Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who told him about the "attack."

• Later, Trump stated that he had heard about the alleged drone "attack" on the Russian dictator's residence in the Novgorod region, but at the same time said he "knows nothing about it."

• On January 1, it became known that the CIA and the U.S. National Security Agency concluded that Ukraine did not target Vladimir Putin's residence at Valdai.