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Moscow says ‘such reckless actions will not go unanswered’
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Russia has declined to provide evidence of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s personal residence in Valdai.
Moscow accused Ukraine of a 91-drone attack on the Russian leader’s personal residence but has failed to provide “plausible evidence” for its claims according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“I don’t think there should be any evidence if such a massive drone attack is being carried out, which, thanks to the well-coordinated work of the air defence system, was shot down,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday.
He added that the question of wreckage was one for the defence ministry.
A statement by Russia’s defence ministry claimed that 49 drones were shot down over the Bryansk region, 450km from Valdai, one over Smolensk and 41 over the heavily forested Novgorod region.
Russia threatened retaliation after the accusations, casting uncertainty over fragile peace efforts.
“Such reckless actions will not go unanswered,”said Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
Zelensky dismissed the Russian claims as “a complete fabrication”, warning that Moscow was laying the groundwork for further strikes.
The Coalition of the Willing will meet in early January to discuss the war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The group of 30 nations, all of whom support Kyiv’s war effort, will meet in France on January 6, the Ukrainian president confirmed.
It is not immediately clear which leaders will take part in the meeting.
Russian attack drones hit two civilian vessels entering a Ukrainian Black Sea port to load wheat, the Ukrainian navy has said.
In a statement on Telegram, officials confirmed the name of the ships were Emmakris III and Captain Karan.
They added that such attacks “threaten the lives of civilians and undermine global food security”.
Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service via deployment in Belarus, Russia’s ministry of defence said on Tuesday.
The precise number of missiles was not disclosed.
Putin has previously praised the Oreshnik’s capabilities, saying that its multiple warheads, which can reach speeds up to Mach 10, are immune to being intercepted.
Given the capricious nature of Donald Trump, a “security guarantee” for Ukraine envisioned as lasting 15 years is about as reliable as one lasting 150 years – or, for that matter, 15 minutes.
It is, in other words, entirely notional, if not theoretical. This is an “America first” administration, and that extends to everything – defence, trade, climate change, and even public health.
As America’s former friends and partners across the world have discovered during both Mr Trump’s terms of office, any security guarantee, any treaty commitment, and any solemn promise made by this administration, or even by its predecessors, can be rescinded with the stroke of a Sharpie.
A drone view shows damaged apartment buildings, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the frontline town of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Ukraine in this handout picture released on Tuesday.
Attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure have continued after a civilian ship and facilities were damaged in the Black Sea ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said a civilian Panama-flagged ship, loaded with grains and oil storage tanks, was damaged.
One person was wounded, according to his statement posted on Telegram on Tuesday.
“This is yet another targeted attack by Russia on civilian port infrastructure,” Kuleba continued. “The enemy is trying to disrupt logistics and complicate shipping.”
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk says that peace is “on the horizon” after a call with European leaders took place on Tuesday.
“Peace is on the horizon, there is no doubt that things have happened that give grounds for hope that this war can end, and quite quickly, but it is still a hope, far from 100% certain,” Tusk told a government meeting.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was part of the discussions and called for “transparency and honesty” from all sides.
“Now we need transparency and honesty from everyone -including Russia,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Russian losses in the war in Ukraine have been growing at a faster rate than at any point so far since the invasion began in February 2022, new analysis suggests.
Analysis by the BBC found that 40 per cent more obituaries of soldiers were published in Russia this year compared with 2024.
The broadcaster, along with independent outlet Mediazona, compiled a list of named individuals using official reports, newspapers and social media as well as new memorials and graves. In total, they were able to confirm the names of around 160,000 people who have been killed.
Experts told the broadcaster that the figure is likely to be far higher, with the BBC’s toll only likely to represent between 45 and 65 per cent of the overall total. This would mean that Moscow has suffered between 243,000 and 352,000 casualties since the war began.
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India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has expressed his concern about an alleged 91-drone attack by Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin’s personal residence. Ukraine has denied the claims vehemently with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling the accusations “lies”.
“Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation,” PM Modi wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday.
“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.”
Russia and India have tightened their strategic allyship in recent weeks, with Putin visiting Delhi earlier this month.
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