Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the country is going through a "difficult time" due to the Ukraine war and pressure from the West. His comments come as Ukraine continues drone attacks targeting Russian refineries and energy infrastructure, exacerbating fuel supply issues within Russia.
On June 28, during a speech at a United Russia party event, Putin emphasized that "Russia can only exist as a strong and independent nation; otherwise, it cannot exist at all." He claimed that Russia is facing "harsh and unprecedented pressure" from the West, criticizing efforts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and destabilize its internal politics.
Putin accused Ukraine of attacking civilians and civilian facilities, as well as conducting sabotage and terrorist activities within Russia. He stressed the importance of national unity in overcoming the crisis.
His remarks coincided with ongoing long-range drone strikes by Ukraine targeting Russian refineries. According to Reuters, Ukrainian forces attacked two refineries in the Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions on the same day.
In Russia, damage to refineries has led to fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations in some areas. On the same day, Putin held a meeting with relevant ministers to discuss measures to stabilize the domestic fuel market.
He stated that efforts must be made to minimize the impact of terrorist attacks on civilian facilities and infrastructure. He urged the maximum utilization of production capacity at large refineries and the supply capabilities of smaller companies, calling on major energy firms to implement additional measures to ensure stable fuel supply.
Ukraine has been intensifying attacks on military and energy facilities to weaken Russia's war capabilities. While Russia criticizes these actions as attacks on civilian infrastructure, the cumulative damage to refineries is also impacting the domestic fuel market amid the ongoing war.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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