Putin acknowledges fuel shortages after Ukraine strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russia is experiencing "a certain shortage" of fuel, attributing the problem to Ukrainian strikes on the country's energy infrastructure. The acknowledgment comes amid an escalating conflict where Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy facilities.

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As for strikes against critical infrastructure in general, and energy infrastructure in particular, of course these attacks on our infrastructure facilities create problems, that’s obvious.

Putin stated that while the shortage is not critical, the primary focus is on enhancing Russia's anti-aircraft defense capabilities and ensuring fuel supplies, particularly to Crimea. The Ukrainian government views these strikes as a justified response to Russia's near-daily attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since the February 2022 offensive.

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Right now we’re observing a certain shortage, but it’s not critical.

In response to the disruptions, authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an "emergency situation" due to fuel shortages and power cuts. These issues were triggered by Ukrainian attacks targeting Crimea's logistics chains and oil facilities. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move widely unrecognized internationally.

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Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia’s borders.

Putin addressed these challenges in a speech to the United Russia party congress, vowing to ensure security and overcome difficulties. He assured citizens that Russia would overcome all current challenges, including "terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities." His remarks followed a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia's southern Krasnodar region that killed one person and ignited a fire at a refinery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described such strikes as part of operations aimed at weakening Russia's war capabilities.

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The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit –- about 300 kilometres from the frontline. We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 kilometres from our border.