According to Arestovych, the sources he refers to claim that the strike was indeed carried out. “This is not just a residence, but a specialized facility designed for managing the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the context of a nuclear threat. Its significance is comparable to an attack on the U.S. presidential plane,” he emphasized.
Arestovych added that Ukrainian drones were directed towards communication nodes but did not reach their target. “The Russians are very outraged, as this is an attack on a key element of the nuclear triad and military command, which could serve as a basis for a nuclear response,” he noted.
The former advisor also characterized this situation as one of the largest provocations since the Cuban Missile Crisis. “A strike on such an important facility significantly differs in weight from other operations,” he added.
Arestovych also pointed out that Kyiv's actions were directed against the negotiation process itself and Trump's mediation. “Trump found himself in an extremely unfavorable position, as his promises regarding the inadmissibility of provocations were violated,” he noted.
Moreover, Arestovych suggested that Zelenskyy is playing against Trump with the support of Europe, aiming to prolong negotiations until the midterm elections in Congress.
It is worth noting that Russian authorities have not confirmed the fact of a strike on a nuclear facility, stating that Kyiv targeted President Putin's residence in the Novgorod region, which Zelenskyy categorically denies.
According to media reports, this may refer to the “Uzhin” residence in the village of Dolgiye Brody, although its nuclear purpose has not been confirmed. This complex was built in 1934 and occupies an area of 250 hectares. In 2021, Alexey Navalny's foundation conducted an investigation mentioning that there are about 80 buildings on the territory, including the main house and a spa complex.
At the same time, more than 100 kilometers from Putin's residence, there used to be a military facility of nuclear designation “Novgorod-17,” but according to media reports, it is no longer operational.
