Central Asian Response to Alleged Putin Residence Drone Attack: A Weighted Neutrality

They're shaking hands, but the tension is palpable. Central Asian leaders have rallied behind Vladimir Putin following Russia's claims that Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on the President's private residence. While Moscow labels it terrorism, Kyiv dismisses the entire episode as a fabricated pretext for further escalation.

Central Asian Response to Putin Residence Drone Attack Amid Information War

According to Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, Ukraine deployed 91 long-range drones on the night of December 28-29, 2025, targeting Putin’s estate in the Novgorod region. Russia claims all targets were intercepted. However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly countered, calling it "another lie by the Russian Federation" intended to derail peace negotiations.

Western intelligence also seems skeptical. Reports citing the CIA suggest the actual target was a nearby military facility, not the presidential residence. Despite the murky details, the diplomatic fallout was swift across the steppes of Central Asia.

A Chorus of Condemnation from Regional Neighbors

Presidents from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan held phone calls with Putin to express their outrage. Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan reportedly condemned the "reckless terrorist act," while Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan noted that such actions hinder the search for a political solution.

Kyiv didn't hold back, expressing "surprise" at the region's readiness to play along with Russian propaganda. The Ukrainian statement highlighted the irony of Central Asian nations supporting the aggressor while their own histories are rooted in struggles for independence and self-determination.