Russia says Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 in occupied Ukraine as peace talks strain tensions
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that its specialists had accessed the navigation system of a drone it claims was used in a recent strike and that the data showed the aircraft’s final destination was President Vladimir Putin’s residence. Officials said the information would be shared with U.S. authorities through what they described as established communication channels, though no evidence from the navigation data was made public. The ministry also released video footage it said showed a downed drone connected to the alleged attack. The nighttime recording depicted a masked man in military gear standing beside a damaged drone lying in the snow, describing it on camera. No location or date was provided, and the footage offered no independent confirmation of the claims being made.
Ukrainian officials rejected the allegation outright, calling it a fabrication intended to disrupt increasingly active peace negotiations. In his New Year’s address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a potential peace agreement was “90% ready,” while warning that unresolved issues, widely believed to include territorial disputes and security guarantees, would determine not only the outcome of the war but the future stability of Ukraine and Europe. Diplomatic activity has intensified in recent days, with U.S. and European officials holding high-level discussions focused on advancing the next phase of the peace process, strengthening security arrangements, and developing mechanisms to prevent renewed fighting. Ukraine’s lead negotiator confirmed that talks involving European and Ukrainian representatives are scheduled to continue, with Zelenskyy also expected to meet European leaders in the coming days.
At the same time, Kyiv has continued pressing international nuclear watchdogs to respond to what it describes as Russian attacks on energy infrastructure critical to the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Ukrainian officials said a late December drone and missile strike significantly disrupted off-site power connections at several facilities, raising concerns about nuclear safety during ongoing hostilities. The issue has added another layer of urgency to diplomatic efforts as both sides attempt to shape international opinion while negotiating behind the scenes.
Fighting on the ground has continued despite the diplomatic push. Russian forces carried out overnight drone attacks on the Odesa region, striking civilian infrastructure in multiple waves. Local officials reported damage to a two-story residential building and said a drone struck an apartment on the 17th floor of a high-rise without detonating, with no casualties reported. Ukraine’s air force said its air defenses intercepted or disabled the majority of drones launched overnight, though several strike drones still reached their targets across multiple locations, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict even as peace talks gather momentum.
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