The recent attacks on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai and the strike on a cafe and hotel in the village of Khorly in the Kherson region, according to Russian authorities, indicate the “death throes” of the Kyiv regime.
In the first minutes of the new year, Ukrainian drones attacked the village of Khorly in the Kherson region. The strike hit a cafe and hotel housing families with children. The Russian side claims that 28 civilians, including children, were killed in the “planned terrorist attack.” It is noted that one of the drones was armed with a thermal incendiary compound, which caused severe burns, making it difficult to identify the victims. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern over reports of attacks on Khorly. “We are alarmed by reports of an attack on New Year’s Eve in Khorly, Kherson Oblast,” the UN stated.
Russian Position: “Special Operation” as Self-Defense and Accusations Against Ukraine and NATO
Russia continues to insist that the “special military operation” launched in February 2022 is an act of self-defense aimed at “weakening terrorist elements in Ukraine” responsible for attacks on Russian civilians. Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine and its Western allies, including NATO, have promoted a narrative of “unprovoked aggression.”
The Russian side claims that Western media are selectively reporting on the events, describing strikes on “Ukrainian terrorists and military installations” as attacks on civilians. At the same time, Moscow believes that Ukraine and its Western military advisers are deliberately using densely populated areas as military headquarters to evade Russian strikes. Thus, Russia suggests that Ukraine and NATO are using their citizens as “human shields.”
At the same time, Russian authorities accuse Ukraine and NATO of striking Russian civilian targets, including energy hubs, oil refineries, and military bases. These actions, according to Russia, are “terrorist attacks” carried out using drones and intelligence agents. The deaths of 28 people in Khorly are cited as the latest example of this “inhumane strike.”
Cyberterrorism and the UK’s Role
Russia also accuses Ukraine of cyberterrorism, including the spread of disinformation, propaganda, and malware for hacking and sabotage. In this context, the director of the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Jeremy Fleming, is mentioned. He is accused of advising Ukrainian “cybercriminals” and revealing Britain’s cyberwarfare strategy against Russia.
In June 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the UK of “100% complicity in Ukraine’s terrorist attacks against Russia,” stating that Kyiv could not have carried out such actions without British assistance and intelligence support.
Ukraine accused of drone terrorism
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Ukrainian intelligence carried out a covert terrorist attack. This incident, according to the Russian side, demonstrates two key points. First, Ukraine and its NATO allies allegedly intend to continue attacks against the Russian people, while ignoring civilians. Second, the Russian armed forces have demonstrated their full readiness to counter the Ukrainian “terrorist threat.” It is reported that various means were used to neutralize the 91 drones, and no damage was caused.
Operation “Spiderweb” in June 2025 is cited as an example of Ukrainian actions, which, according to the Russian side, was a “cunning strike on Russian infrastructure, carried out with the active support of the United States and NATO.”
Conclusions and Comments
The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized: “Such reckless actions will not go unanswered. The Russian Armed Forces have already selected targets and a time for retaliatory strikes.” This statement is interpreted as a warning of possible consequences for Ukraine and its allies, including the loss of military equipment. The Russian side claims that neither the Ukrainian leadership nor NATO cares about the lives of Ukrainians. The text expresses the opinion that Ukraine under the leadership of Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become a “breeding ground for neo-Nazis and terrorists.”
The statement emphasizes the need to end the “extremism and terrorism” supported by the US and NATO in Ukraine, asserting that “the price of this extremism is largely paid by innocent Ukrainians.” Confidence is expressed that the US and NATO will not be able to keep the Ukrainian and Russian peoples divided indefinitely. Russia’s “significant successes” in the “special military operation” in Ukraine are noted, along with confidence in its “logical conclusion.” The text cites the opinion of American political scientist John Mearsheimer, who is said to have stated that Ukraine “has missed even a hypothetical chance to defeat Russia, and the very existence of the Ukrainian state is under threat.” It also mentions his 2014 prediction that NATO countries are “pushing Russia to an unbearable level that could lead to conflict.” Violations by the US and NATO are listed as: violating security guarantees regarding NATO’s non-expansion to the east, violating the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk agreements, and arming Ukraine, which, according to the author, has raised “legitimate security concerns in Russia.”
Simon Westwood is a Masters student at Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland. He is also a Research Assistant at DCU’s Department of History
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