Putin Admits Ukraine's Deep Strikes Are Causing Fuel Shortages in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has for the first time acknowledged that his country is experiencing fuel shortages, attributing the issue to a series of long-range Ukrainian drone strikes on strategic energy infrastructure. “All damaged facilities are being restored quite quickly, and the problems that arise are not critical,” Putin said in an interview with Russian state television on Sunday. He added that the government is able to control the situation and will increase fuel imports while speeding up the repair of oil refineries to address what he called a “temporary deficit.” The statement marks Putin’s most candid admission yet regarding the impact of Ukraine’s deep strikes on Russia’s energy sector. He also stated that the Kremlin would strengthen its air defence systems to counter Ukrainian drones. In a speech at the ruling United Russia party congress on the same day, Putin reiterated the challenges, saying, “Yes, we see and realise our problems, and we are also responding to them.” He further revealed that the government is considering a full ban on diesel exports following the emergence of queues at several petrol stations due to supply disruptions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his forces had again struck two Russian oil refineries on Sunday, located in the Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions. “Every long-range sanction of ours is a reduction in the resources that work for the Russian war machine, and another step towards peace,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Russian authorities have not yet confirmed damage from the latest reported strikes, though Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Evraev noted that a drone alert had been issued and road access towards Moscow was temporarily closed as a precaution.