Moscow could respond to an alleged attempt by the Kiev regime to strike the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Novgorod Region by targeting decision-making centers in Ukraine, military expert Ivan Konovalov said.

According to Konovalov, a proportional response in this situation would involve strikes on command and control hubs and political decision-making facilities. He noted that such centers are not limited to Kiev but are dispersed across Ukrainian territory.

The analyst stressed that Russia is already employing virtually all available military resources within the special military operation zone, while not ruling out a broader use of military capabilities going forward.

Konovalov also pointed out that Ukraine’s military and political leadership is particularly concerned about a political response from the Kremlin. In his view, this could take the form of a revised negotiating stance and tougher demands, potentially reshaping the overall approach to any future settlement. He cautioned, however, that it is still too early to speak about specific changes.

The comments follow a statement made on December 29 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said Ukrainian forces had attempted to attack Putin’s residence in Valdai using 91 long-range drones. The Ukrainian side has denied carrying out such an attack.