Russia and Ukraine exchanged sharp accusations over an alleged Ukrainian attack on the Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod Region, with the Russian side labeling it a "terrorist" act to sabotage talks and Ukraine dismissing it as a "fabrication" to justify new aggression.
Russia will toughen its position in the Ukraine negotiations following the alleged attack, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.
Peskov said the Ukrainian attack was aimed at disrupting the negotiation process on ending the Ukrainian conflict, from which Russia is not withdrawing.
He added that while Russia would reassess its position, the specifics of this shift would not be publicly detailed, and that the military would decide the appropriate time and means for a response.
Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a statement that Ukraine launched 91 long-range attack drones at a presidential estate in the Novgorod region late Sunday into early Monday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized the severity of the alleged attack on Monday, calling it a dangerous attempt to destroy the negotiation process and obstruct the achievement of peace and promising a measured response.
Russian commentators suggested the alleged operation would have required significant preparation and possible external coordination. Military historian Yuri Knutov told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta that launching over 90 drones would require pre-programmed flight paths to evade air defenses, implying a level of sophistication that pointed toward European involvement.
Ukraine has categorically rejected all Russian claims. President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the incident on Tuesday as Russian "fake news," crafted to derail peace talks and undermine Ukraine's diplomatic efforts with the U.S. administration.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated the denial on social media on Tuesday, saying "Russia still hasn't provided any plausible evidence to its accusations of Ukraine's alleged 'attack on Putin's residence.' And they won't. Because there's none. No such attack happened." He accused the Russian side of spreading "false claims" for its own agenda.
Russia, Ukraine exchange accusations over alleged drone attack on Putin's residence
Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.
As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.
It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.
"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.
The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.
"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.
With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.
"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.
For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.
"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.
Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues
