Russia claims Vladimir Putin survived drone attack following Donald Trump's outrage

has claimed Russian President survived a massive drone attack on his helicopter.

Mr Putin's helicopter was "virtually at the epicentre of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy's drones" last Tuesday but the country's air defences were deployed to keep the leader safe. Yury Dashkin, commander of a Russian air defence division, said: "We simultaneously conducted an air defense battle and ensured the safety of the presidential helicopter’s flight in the air."

insisted he had no knowledge of the incident when quizzed by reporters on Sunday. He said: "I haven't heard that. I don't know, but I have not heard that." Yet, on Monday, , branding the Russian leader "absolutely crazy" in a post on Truth Social.

The Russians have provided no additional evidence that the near-miss occurred. Moscow recently claimed it had driven Ukrainian forces out of The Kursk region, which borders , out of the area.

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Mr Trump became angry following escalation in the fighting in Ukraine. in attacks from Friday to Sunday, it is understood. In addition to Mr Trump's Truth Social rant, he told reporters: "I'm not happy with what Putin's doing. He's killing a lot of people."

"I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he's sending rockets into cities and killing people. We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all... I don't know what's wrong with him."

It is understood Mr Trump had spoken to Mr Putin on the phone for two hours last Monday - a day before the alleged helicopter incident happened. The US President left the call believing progress could be made, saying that the "tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent." He added: "If it wasn't, I would say so now, rather than later."

But then, on Truth Social, furious Mr Trump said: "I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of ."

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Russian attacks "show the extent to which President Putin has lied to the Europeans and to the Americans."

It led to Mr Trump telling reporters on Sunday he was "absolutely" considering upping sanctions on Russia but an announcement has yet to be made. The president spent Monday morning at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Memorial Day and then headed to his Trump-branded Sterling, Virginia club where he spent the rest of the day.