Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov announced between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. UTC on December 30 that Russia will toughen its negotiating position on Ukraine, labeling the alleged drone attack on President Vladimir Putin's residence a "terrorist act" and stating Russia knows "how, with what, and when to respond," according to TASS agency as posted on X by Faytuks. Peskov dismissed Ukraine's denial of involvement as "absurd and insane," per the TASS statement shared during the 29-minute reporting window. Pakistan condemned the alleged attack as a "horrific act" threatening peace efforts, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing solidarity with Russia, according to an X post by NOELreports in the same period. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia mobilizes 43,000 people monthly but its army size has stopped growing for the first time this year, potentially a prerequisite for ending the war in 2026, as reported by wartranslated on X during the window. In a military update, a former Afghan Mi-8MTV-5 helicopter in Ukrainian service was spotted equipped with German Hensoldt AN-AAR-60 sensors and Ukrainian Adros jamming systems for missile defense, according to NOELreports on X.
