A wave of conflicting reports has erupted over whether Russian President Vladimir Putin’s helicopter came under attack by Ukrainian drones during his recent visit to the Kursk nuclear power plant. With both Russian and Ukrainian officials trading accusations and denials, the truth remains obscured in a fog of war and propaganda.
The visit in question occurred on May 20, when President Putin made a rare and highly publicized trip to inspect the newly completed Kursk nuclear facility, a strategic infrastructure project located just 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Russian state media heavily covered the visit, showing Putin traveling in a heavily guarded motorcade and touring the plant alongside top nuclear and defense officials.
However, on May 25, Russian commander Yuri Dashkin claimed that President Putin’s helicopter was involved in repelling an intense aerial assault by Ukrainian Armed Forces during the visit. In an interview with RBC, Dashkin described the incident as an “unprecedented attack” that involved 46 drones being intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defenses.
“We simultaneously waged an anti-aircraft battle and ensured the safety of the president’s helicopter in the air,” Dashkin stated. He further added that the drone strike appeared to target both military installations and the area surrounding the president’s temporary location.
The claim ignited immediate controversy, especially as it was not corroborated by any footage, independent observers, or even Russian state news agencies. Ukraine’s Strategic Communications Center swiftly denounced the statement as fictional.
“This is a lie,” the Ukrainian Stratcom Center posted on Facebook. “Pro-Kremlin media showed that Putin traveled entirely by motorcade. No UAV attacks were reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense or prominent Telegram channels that usually provide real-time updates on military engagements.”
Adding to the skepticism, CAPLIENKO_UKRAINE FIGHTS, a widely followed Ukrainian Telegram channel, accused Dashkin of fabricating the story to elevate Putin’s image as a fearless wartime leader. “It is possible that all this is a lie to create a heroic halo for the ‘bunker’,” the channel claimed, referencing the nickname some Ukrainians use to criticize Putin’s allegedly reclusive lifestyle.
The Kremlin itself has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. Neither Putin’s official website nor the Kremlin’s Telegram channel has acknowledged any such attack. State-run media also continues to emphasize the motorcade footage, leaving no trace of helicopter usage during the visit.
Still, some military analysts suggest it is not impossible that a helicopter was deployed to a nearby airfield as a precautionary measure. “In high-risk zones, emergency aviation protocols often involve staging multiple evacuation options. That doesn’t mean they were used,” said Igor Novikov, a former Ukrainian presidential advisor now based in London.
Meanwhile, the narrative war surrounding Putin’s helicopter incident dovetails with rising geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a series of bombastic statements on social media and to reporters, has condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and indirectly questioned Putin’s mental state.
“He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right.”
Trump’s frustration comes as he positions himself as a potential broker for peace in the region. Speaking to reporters on May 22, Trump said he is considering lifting restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons in Ukraine, and hinted at new sanctions on Moscow if attacks continue.
“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people and I don’t know what the hell happened to him,” Trump said. “I’ve always gotten along with him. But this? This is just madness.”
According to a Kyiv Post report, Trump is also reevaluating all existing policies that limit how Ukraine can use American-made weapons, with two senior Western officials confirming that “the current status quo does not serve our common interests of bringing Russia to the [negotiation] table.”
Despite Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, Russia remains defiant. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s remarks as emotional outbursts. “The talks about peace proceed with difficulty and emotional overload from all sides,” he told Russian media on May 21.
On May 26, during a closed-door meeting with Russian business leaders, Putin reiterated his claim that Russia is not the aggressor. “Russia was forced to respond to what was happening in Ukraine. We are being made to look like the guilty party, but Moscow did not organize the bloody coup of 2014,” Putin said, referencing the ouster of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
While diplomatic dialogue falters, the intensity of cross-border attacks has surged. Between May 20 and 23, Russia claims to have intercepted nearly 1,200 Ukrainian drones, with 800 reportedly neutralized within Russian territory. Ukraine maintains that its strikes are directed at military targets, not civilians.
“Ukraine conducted their most prolonged and intense drone attack on Russian regions following Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire,” former Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Iuliia Mendel said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Ukrainian and international media, this assault spanned 15 Russian regions, including strikes on facilities in occupied Crimea. The Ukrainian military described the effort as a strategic response aimed at weakening Russia’s supply chains and military infrastructure.
Yet, the consequences on the ground have been severe. The BBC reported that a barrage of 367 drones and missiles launched by Russia between Saturday and Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 13 Ukrainians and left dozens injured. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a follow-up wave of 355 UAVs overnight, calling it “Russia’s largest drone offensive since the war began.”
Amidst the devastation, Zelensky accused Russia of targeting civilians deliberately to break Ukrainian morale. “Their aim is not just our military. They want our will, our unity, and our hope. But we stand,” he declared.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov further dampened any hope for immediate peace when he rejected Trump’s proposal to host negotiations at the Vatican. “There are no plans for any upcoming meetings at the Vatican or elsewhere,” Lavrov said on May 23, signaling a deadlock in backchannel talks.
The alleged helicopter incident, whether fact or fiction, underscores the deepening information war that accompanies the physical conflict in Ukraine. With narratives tightly controlled on both sides, the line between truth and propaganda grows ever more blurred.
“In modern warfare, perception often matters as much as firepower,” said Natalia Antonov, a defense policy expert at Warsaw’s Center for Strategic Studies. “If Russian media can show Putin near the front lines repelling drone attacks, it reinforces his image domestically as a strong leader. And that image is essential as the war drags on.”
