Overview
- At a Dec. 31 briefing, Russia’s Defense Ministry said 91 long‑range Ukrainian drones targeted the Valdai residence on Dec. 28–29 and were all shot down, releasing debris video and an air‑defense operator’s account.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Valdai claim a fake, while open‑source analysts and some Western officials highlighted inconsistent Russian reporting and a lack of local alerts or corroborating footage.
- New Year’s night saw broader cross‑border strikes, with Ukraine reporting about 205 Russian attack drones across multiple regions and emergency services citing injuries and infrastructure damage.
- Belgorod authorities reported sustained Ukrainian drone attacks, saying more than 80 drones hit eight districts in the past day, leaving one person dead, five injured, and damage to homes and vehicles.
- Russian‑installed officials in occupied Kherson said three Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and hotel in Horly, reporting 24 dead and dozens injured, a claim Ukraine had not addressed as Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled it a terrorist act.