Putin said Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign is meant to split Russian society and inflict economic damage, while insisting the attacks will not succeed.
Hours earlier, Kyiv said it struck a major oil refinery more than 1,000 kilometers from the front, underscoring how far Ukrainian drones are now reaching inside Russia.
Putin acknowledged the strikes have caused economic harm but said damaged facilities were restored quickly, even as the real impact on Russia’s energy infrastructure remains hard to gauge.
Calling for better air defenses for the second time this month, he also said more than 700,000 Russian personnel are involved in the war and again ruled out direct talks with Volodymyr Zelensky.
With Russia's oil revenue rising, can Ukraine's drone strikes on refineries truly cripple Putin's war machine?
Is Ukraine's 'logistics lockdown' on Crimea a sustainable path to victory or a high-risk escalation?
As drones expose Russia's vulnerability, will its economy or its societal unity crack first under the pressure?
658 Ukrainian Strikes and Crimea’s Fuel Shortage: The Strategic Impact of “Kinetic Sanctions” on Russia’s War Machine
Overview
Crimea is facing a severe and escalating fuel crisis, caused by ongoing supply disruptions after recent attacks on its transport and logistics infrastructure. These attacks have made it very difficult to bring fuel into the region, leading to widespread shortages. In response, authorities have imposed strict rationing, drastically reducing fuel availability at all filling stations. As a result, residents struggle with limited access to gasoline and diesel, facing long queues and daily disruptions. The crisis is also hitting Crimea’s tourism industry hard, as the lack of fuel and uncertainty discourage visitors and hurt the local economy.