Just days after claiming that Ukrainian drones had attempted to attack one of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s private residences, Russia’s Defence Ministry has published what is believed to be a fake map showing the alleged route of the Ukrainian UAVs. The Russian map supposedly shows the flight path taken by some 91 long-range Ukrainian drones that tried to attack Putin’s Valdai residence in Novgorod.

Russia claims to have destroyed 50 drones in Bryansk and Smolensk oblasts, while insisting that the UAVs were heading towards Putin’s residence. Another 41 drones were destroyed in the Novgorod Oblast, they said. However, Ukraine‘s Foreign Intelligence Service has responded, outlining facts that indicate the Russian claims are not credible. This comes after Ukraine‘s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, also dismissed the claim, dubbing it “another round of lies” and warning that Russia was preparing for a strike on Kyiv’s Government buildings.

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service believes Russia is conducting an information operation aimed at derailing agreements between the presidents of Ukraine and the US.

The Ukrainian intelligence service has noted that a number of facts indicate that the story about an attack on Putin’s residence is fake. This includes the fact that local residents in Novgorod Oblast did not report a drone attack or any consequences of an attack at any time on December 29, and that there is no factual evidence (wreckage, photos, videos) of downed UAVs.

However, Russia has since released a video of a downed drone that it says Ukraine launched at Putin’s residence. The clip, shot at night, showed a damaged drone lying in the snow in a forested area in north-western Russia this week. Russia’s defence ministry said the alleged attack was “targeted, carefully planned, and carried out in stages”.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has twice amended its reports to match the Kremlin’s narratives, initially reporting 18 UAVs from Ukraine’s defence forces and later increasing the number to 23, according to Ukrainska Pravda. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Russia’s fabrication about the alleged attack was merely an excuse for Moscow to abandon peace efforts.

Following the alleged attack, Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said that because of the attack, the Kremlin’s position in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine would “be revised”.

He told Russian state media: “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered”.

The UK was also accused of involvement in the attack, with Alexander Grushko, Russia’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, claiming Britain did so to disrupt the peace process.

Putin is reported to have raised the alleged attack in a phone call with Donald Trump on Monday, which left the US president “shocked”, according to Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin spokesman.