Russia Ukraine Drone Strike Putin Residence 2026: Evidence Handed to U.S. as Tensions Flare

It's a high-stakes game of digital forensics and diplomacy. Russia has officially handed over what it claims is "undeniable proof" of a Ukraine drone strike targeting President Vladimir Putin's residence to a U.S. military attache. This move comes as the 2026 peace negotiations reach a critical juncture.

The Handover of the 'Navigation Controller' in Moscow

According to Reuters, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia's Armed Forces Main Directorate, met with a U.S. attache on Thursday. He presented a navigation controller recovered from a downed drone, stating that decrypted data confirms the target was the presidential complex in the Novgorod region.

Moscow accused Kyiv of launching 91 long-range drones earlier this week. The Russian Defence Ministry warned that this alleged escalation would force it to review its position in ongoing talks with the United States aimed at ending the war.

A Deepening Divide: Trump’s Skepticism and the Disinformation War

The narrative remains fiercely contested. The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. intelligence officials found no evidence that Ukraine targeted Putin's homes. Kyiv has dismissed the claims as a "disinformation campaign" designed to create friction between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump.

President Trump's stance has notably shifted within days. While he initially expressed anger over the reports, he's recently grown more skeptical, even sharing editorials that accuse Russia of being the primary obstacle to peace.