A prominent drone expert has raised significant doubts regarding Russia’s claims that Ukraine attempted to launch a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence. The allegations, which Moscow has intensified in recent days, have been firmly rejected by Kyiv and are considered “tactically implausible” by Cameron Chell, CEO and co-founder of Draganfly, a drone manufacturer that supplies technology to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations, including Ukraine.
Chell’s skepticism follows Russia’s assertion that Ukraine aimed to target a presidential palace located in the Novgorod region. He noted that such an attack contradicts Ukraine’s established drone strategies, stating, “I find it hard to fathom that this drone attack even happened on Putin’s residence or that it was something that Ukraine orchestrated.”
Discrepancies in Russia’s Claims
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, 91 drones were intercepted while allegedly en route to Putin’s residence on the shores of Lake Valdai. This figure conflicts with earlier reports from the Defense Ministry, which had indicated that 89 drones were shot down across eight regions, including 18 over Novgorod. Following Lavrov’s statement, the ministry later claimed that an additional 49 drones, intercepted over Bryansk—nearly 300 miles away—were also targeting Valdai.
Chell argued that for drones to successfully strike Putin’s residence, they would need to be launched from a significantly closer location, likely within 10 to 30 kilometers. He emphasized the high security surrounding the facility, stating, “To have a number of lower-cost, slower-moving drones coming in on that facility would be very un-Ukrainian.”
Ukraine has dismissed the allegations, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling them a “complete fabrication,” suggesting that they serve as a pretext for further military actions by Russia. The timing of the accusations has raised eyebrows, particularly given the recent positive discussions between Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding peace efforts.
Challenges in Executing the Alleged Attack
Chell further elaborated on the logistical challenges of conducting such an operation, particularly at night when visibility is limited. He noted that using GPS or AI-based navigation would be difficult due to potential jamming, making the launch of multiple drones even less feasible. “Apparently, the thing was at night, so that’s very difficult for machine vision or AI mapping software,” Chell explained.
From a strategic standpoint, he argued that it would be politically unwise for Ukraine to engage in such an attack while involved in sensitive peace negotiations. “They’re bold, but right in the middle of peace talks — when they need Trump on side — it makes no sense,” he added.
In light of these developments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Zelenskyy’s denial and skepticism from the West as “completely insane,” stating that Russia’s diplomatic approach would be hardened. Meanwhile, Lavrov threatened retaliation while simultaneously expressing a willingness to continue negotiations with Washington.
As tensions escalate, the situation remains fluid, with both sides maintaining conflicting narratives regarding the ongoing conflict and the prospects for peace.
