On May 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed that Moscow had earlier transferred debris and technical data from unmanned aerial vehicles to Washington for examination, referring to a drone incident that targeted a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region in late 2025.
Speaking to reporters at the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Kazakhstan, Putin said the materials were provided to US administration representatives so they could conduct an independent technical review. According to the Russian president, the transfer was intended to allow what he described as an objective assessment of the drone equipment.
The drone attack on the Valdai residence in the Novgorod region was first reported by Russian authorities in December 2025, when officials stated that unmanned aerial vehicles had attempted to strike the property and that some devices had been intercepted. Putin’s remarks at the summit marked the first public confirmation that evidence from the incident had been shared with the United States. Some international reports indicate the actual transfer of materials may have occurred earlier in 2026, though the precise timeline has not been independently confirmed.
Putin’s disclosure came on the same day that Romanian officials reported a drone crashing into a residential building in the city of Galati, attributing the device to Russia — a claim Moscow has not acknowledged. The Russian president cited the Romanian incident while discussing the drone issue, though no direct link between the two events has been established.
As of May 31, the US administration has not issued any public statement confirming receipt of the materials or outlining plans for examination.
The exchange of physical evidence between the two governments stands out against the backdrop of strained bilateral relations. Analysis of drone remnants can reveal details about manufacturing origins and component supply chains, though independent verification of any conclusions would require access to the original materials by third parties.