Russian President Vladimir Putin was reportedly the target of an assassination attempt after a Ukrainian drone targeted his helicopter during a late-night flight over the tense border region of Kursk, according to Russian officials. Air defence systems intercepted and destroyed the drone before it could reach the president’s flight path.
The dramatic incident occurred during Putin’s visit to Kursk, his first since Moscow claimed in April to have fully repelled Ukrainian forces from the region. Russian media, citing unnamed defence officials, described the strike as a “coordinated and deliberate” effort to hit the presidential convoy mid-air.
“A drone was detected approaching the flight path of the president’s helicopter. It was immediately neutralised by our air defence forces before it posed any threat,” a senior Russian officer told state media.
No injuries or damage were reported, and Putin’s convoy continued without interruption. However, the breach has raised serious questions about Ukrainian drone capabilities and Russian airspace security. Authorities are now investigating whether the drone strike was an attempted assassination or part of a broader psychological operation by Kyiv.
Ukraine has not issued any official statement regarding the incident. Nonetheless, it has previously targeted key Russian infrastructure and military positions. Kursk has remained a hotspot since a surprise Ukrainian incursion in August 2024, an operation widely seen as a symbolic blow to the Kremlin. While Russia announced it had re-established full control over the region on April 26, Ukraine continues to dispute that claim.