NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence had been targeted, urging restraint and renewed focus on diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
In a post on X, PM Modi said he was “deeply concerned” by the reports and stressed that diplomatic engagement remained the best way forward.
“Deeply concerned by reports of the targeting of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation. 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,” he said.
Russia earlier claimed that Ukraine had launched a drone attack on President Putin’s state residence located in the Novgorod region between Moscow and St Petersburg. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, 91 long-range drones were fired at the residence on December 28-29, all of which were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defenses.
Lavrov described the incident as a “terrorist attack” and said Moscow would revise its negotiating position on ending the Ukraine war. He added that Russia had already selected targets in Ukraine for what he called “retaliation strikes”.
Ukraine rejected the accusation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s claims as “lies,” alleging that Moscow was using the narrative to justify further attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.
“This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, as well as Russia’s refusal to take necessary steps to end the war,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine does not take actions that undermine diplomacy, accusing Russia of doing the opposite, and urged the international community not to remain silent as efforts continue toward achieving lasting peace.
