Putin’s residence hit by drone attack, Russia launches fierce retaliation in Ukraine

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, it was not clarified from Russia's side where President Putin was present at the time of the alleged attack. After this incident, Russia retaliated by carrying out drone attacks in Odessa city of Ukraine. Russian attacks targeted a residential building and power grid in Odessa, in which a total of 6 people including 3 children were injured. After the attack, there was an atmosphere of panic in the area.

Oleh Kiper, head of the local military administration, said four buildings were damaged in the Russian bombing. Ukraine's energy company, DTEK, said two of its key power installations were seriously damaged. According to the company, 10 substations supplying electricity to the city of Odessa were already damaged in December. Meanwhile, Russia has claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack Putin's residence. The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of the downed drone and said that it was the drone used in the attack. The video shows the damaged drone in a snowy area.

However, Ukrainian officials have dismissed these allegations, calling them a plot to disrupt the peace talks. Russian Air Force Major General Alexander Romanenkov claimed that the drones took off from the Sumy and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine and that the attack was well-planned.

Russia has described the incident as a terrorist attack and a personal attack on President Putin. According to the Defense Ministry, the attack began around 7 pm on December 28, although Putin's residence was not damaged. The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said that it has not yet seen any independent footage or reports that can confirm an attack on Putin's residence.