Russian President Vladimir Putin was reportedly the target of an aerial assassination attempt during a late-night flight over the border region of Kursk, according to Russian defence sources. Officials say a Ukrainian drone was intercepted just moments before entering the airspace near the president’s helicopter convoy.

The incident unfolded on May 20, during Putin’s visit to Kursk—a region that has remained on high alert since last year’s surprise Ukrainian incursion. It marked Putin’s first trip to the area since April, when Moscow declared it had reasserted full control over the oblast, a claim Kyiv continues to challenge.

Drone intercepted mid-flight

Russian state media, citing unnamed defence officials, described the incident as a “coordinated and deliberate” attempt to strike the presidential convoy while in flight. A senior military officer confirmed to local outlets that “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.”

There were no injuries or reported damage, and Putin’s journey proceeded as planned. However, the breach has reignited concerns about Ukrainian drone capabilities and the vulnerability of Russian airspace—particularly in areas still witnessing cross-border tensions.

Yury Dashkin, a Russian air defence commander, claimed that Putin’s helicopter was “at the epicenter of the response to the massive drone attack.” Speaking to Russian news agency RBC, Dashkin said, “We were simultaneously engaged in an air defence battle and ensuring airspace security for the president’s helicopter flight.”

Ukraine has not yet commented on the claims.

Ongoing tensions and escalation

The Kursk region has remained volatile since August 2024, when Ukrainian forces launched an unexpected operation widely interpreted as a symbolic challenge to the Kremlin. While Russia declared victory in April, Ukrainian authorities dispute the full extent of Moscow’s territorial control.

This incident comes amid rising aerial conflict between the two nations. In what has been described as the war’s most extensive air assault to date, Russian forces launched 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian targets overnight, killing at least 12 civilians—including three children—and injuring many more. The northern region of Zhytomyr was among the hardest hit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault and urged the international community, particularly the United States, to take a firmer stance. “The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” he said on Telegram. “Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia.”

The alleged drone attack on Putin echoes earlier allegations made in January 2025, when former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson claimed on his podcast that the Biden administration had tried to assassinate the Russian leader. “The Tucker Carlson Show” episode, however, offered no evidence. At the time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured the public that Putin remained well-protected.