CIA finds no evidence Ukraine attacked Putin's residence

The Wall Street Journal reported the information.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Wednesday that no Ukrainian attack targeted Russian leader Vladimir Putin or his residences, contradicting the Kremlin's dramatic claims that Kyiv attempted to assassinate the Russian dictator.

A CIA assessment found no evidence of an assassination attempt against Putin, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the intelligence. Instead, American officials determined that Ukraine had been planning to strike a military installation in the same general region as Putin's countryside residence, known as Dolgiye Borody, but not in close proximity to it.

The disclosure comes as President Trump signaled skepticism about Russia's narrative. On Wednesday, Trump shared a New York Post editorial on Truth Social with the headline: "Putin 'attack' bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace." The post marked one of Trump's sharpest recent criticisms of Moscow, which he has previously characterized as eager to end the war.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed the president on the matter before Trump's social media post, according to a person familiar with the discussion. U.S. intelligence maintains multiple methods of monitoring Russian airspace and military operations, including satellites, radar systems, and communications intercepts.

The controversy erupted after Putin told Trump in a Monday phone call that Ukrainian drones had targeted his lakeside residence in northwestern Russia. When asked whether the U.S. possessed evidence of such an attack, Trump told reporters: "You are saying, maybe the attack didn't take place—that is possible too, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning it did."

Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement in targeting Putin's residence. Ukrainian officials argue that Moscow is fabricating the incident to damage relations between Washington and Kyiv and undermine Ukraine's position in ongoing U.S.-brokered peace negotiations.

Russia's defense ministry claimed Wednesday it intercepted 91 Ukrainian drones allegedly aimed at Putin's Novgorod residence, releasing video footage of what officials said was a downed explosive-laden Ukrainian drone in the snow.

The alleged attack came just after Trump's nearly three-hour Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which Trump described as "excellent" and suggested he might visit Kyiv to advance peace efforts.

Moscow has used the allegations to threaten a harder negotiating stance in peace talks and has launched drone strikes on Ukraine's Odessa port region in response.

Russia's claims appeared to gain traction internationally. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed being "deeply concerned" about the alleged operation, while Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned it as "a heinous act." The United Arab Emirates also voiced concern.

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he discussed next steps toward peace with British, French, and German national security advisers, with Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov joining the call. The discussions focused on potential security guarantees and "deconfliction mechanisms" to help end the war and prevent its resumption.