Putin makes rare admission of fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes
✓In Russia, the impact of Ukraine's missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure from Moscow to the Black Sea and beyond has long been evident.
Queues at petrol stations. Fuel rationing widespread. Refineries hit. Drivers in the Russia-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea banned from filling their tanks so priority can be given to military vehicles.
But such is the gravity of the situation it has now been explicitly acknowledged by President Vladimir Putin for the first time.
Over the weekend, Russia's president discussed the crisis with senior officials and oil executives. And in public remarks, he was unusually frank.
"You're well aware that problems persist for both motorists and businesses," he told the meeting. "Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol isn't always easy."
He also mentioned the difficulties faced by the agricultural industry and said the harvest "depended on" the fuel supply schedule being met.
According to independent Russian outlet Mediazona, 56 Russian regions are currently enforcing fuel restrictions.
Later, in an interview with Russian state television, Putin was even more open.
He admitted Ukraine's attacks were "obviously creating problems": "We are currently seeing a certain shortage," he said, "but it's not critical."
He promised to increase production of air defences to protect Russian energy infrastructure, and to speed up repairs to the refineries that Ukraine managed to hit.
In Crimea, Putin admitted, only "a few days' supply" was left – but said he was "confident" more fuel would be brought in soon.
It is unusual for Putin to be so open about the impact of Ukrainian strikes and the consequences for Russian people.
But such as been the scale of the fuel shortages and the resulting public awareness, he was probably left with little choice but to acknowledge the reality while still insisting – as usual – that Russia's war effort was making progress.
This admission of the difficulties being felt in Crimea is particularly significant, given the symbolic importance of the peninsula to many Russians - and to the Kremlin leader in particular.
Since the start of its occupation of Crimea in 2014, Moscow has turned it into a military base and a strategic point for controlling the Black Sea, and used it to launch its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In the televised interview Putin also gave a clue as to why he was being so open about the problem: Ukraine, he argued, was trying to divide Russian society, weaken its support for the war and increase support for negotiations.
"We won't give them that chance," he said, adding that Ukraine's long range strikes were having "absolutely no impact on the situation at the front line".
The authorities in Kyiv challenge this assessment, saying Ukraine's long range attacks are designed not only to bring the war home to ordinary Russians but also to force their military commanders to divert resources away from the front line.
In recent months, Ukraine has been growing in confidence that the tide of war was turning in its favour, launching deep strikes on St Petersburg and Moscow, stepping up attacks on Crimea, and openly seeking to inflict maximum casualties along the front line.
But the Kremlin said on Monday Russia's plans remained the same – to force Ukrainian forces to leave four south-eastern regions that Moscow claims as its own, which Kyiv rejects. "Our position is well known," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
In his interview Putin claimed Ukraine was offering to limit hostilities and begin talks - although he dismissed this as an attempt by Kyiv to buy time to regroup and rearm.
"It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive," Putin said.
Kyiv's strikes on Russia, he insisted, were meant to be the "salvation" of the Ukrainian army, which Putin insisted was "catastrophically" depleted.
"But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans."
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Ukrainian missile and drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have created fuel shortages across much of Russia. Petrol stations have queues, fuel rationing is widespread, and 56 regions enforce restrictions. In Crimea, civilian fuel access is restricted to prioritise military vehicles. President Putin acknowledged the situation publicly for the first time over the weekend, telling officials and oil executives that problems persist for motorists and businesses, and that Ukraine's attacks are 'creating problems.' He characterised the shortage as real but 'not critical,' and said Crimea has only days of fuel supply. Putin promised to increase air defence production and accelerate refinery repairs. He attributed his public acknowledgment to Ukraine's attempt to divide Russian society and reduce support for the war. The Kremlin restated its objective: forcing Ukrainian forces from four south-eastern regions. Kyiv says the strikes are designed to bring costs home to Russian civilians and force military resource reallocation from the front.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
In Russia, the impact of Ukraine's missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure from Moscow to the Black Sea and beyond has long been evident.
Queues at petrol stations. Fuel rationing widespread. Refineries hit. Drivers in the Russia-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea banned from filling their tanks so priority can be given to military vehicles.
But such is the gravity of the situation it has now been explicitly acknowledged by President Vladimir Putin for the first time.
Over the weekend, Russia's president discussed the crisis with senior officials and oil executives. And in public remarks, he was unusually frank.
"You're well aware that problems persist for both motorists and businesses," he told the meeting. "Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol isn't always easy."
He also mentioned the difficulties faced by the agricultural industry and said the harvest "depended on" the fuel supply schedule being met.
According to independent Russian outlet Mediazona, 56 Russian regions are currently enforcing fuel restrictions.
Later, in an interview with Russian state television, Putin was even more open.
He admitted Ukraine's attacks were "obviously creating problems": "We are currently seeing a certain shortage," he said, "but it's not critical."
He promised to increase production of air defences to protect Russian energy infrastructure, and to speed up repairs to the refineries that Ukraine managed to hit.
In Crimea, Putin admitted, only "a few days' supply" was left – but said he was "confident" more fuel would be brought in soon.
It is unusual for Putin to be so open about the impact of Ukrainian strikes and the consequences for Russian people.
But such as been the scale of the fuel shortages and the resulting public awareness, he was probably left with little choice but to acknowledge the reality while still insisting – as usual – that Russia's war effort was making progress.
This admission of the difficulties being felt in Crimea is particularly significant, given the symbolic importance of the peninsula to many Russians - and to the Kremlin leader in particular.
Since the start of its occupation of Crimea in 2014, Moscow has turned it into a military base and a strategic point for controlling the Black Sea, and used it to launch its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In the televised interview Putin also gave a clue as to why he was being so open about the problem: Ukraine, he argued, was trying to divide Russian society, weaken its support for the war and increase support for negotiations.
"We won't give them that chance," he said, adding that Ukraine's long range strikes were having "absolutely no impact on the situation at the front line".
The authorities in Kyiv challenge this assessment, saying Ukraine's long range attacks are designed not only to bring the war home to ordinary Russians but also to force their military commanders to divert resources away from the front line.
In recent months, Ukraine has been growing in confidence that the tide of war was turning in its favour, launching deep strikes on St Petersburg and Moscow, stepping up attacks on Crimea, and openly seeking to inflict maximum casualties along the front line.
But the Kremlin said on Monday Russia's plans remained the same – to force Ukrainian forces to leave four south-eastern regions that Moscow claims as its own, which Kyiv rejects. "Our position is well known," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
In his interview Putin claimed Ukraine was offering to limit hostilities and begin talks - although he dismissed this as an attempt by Kyiv to buy time to regroup and rearm.
"It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive," Putin said.
Kyiv's strikes on Russia, he insisted, were meant to be the "salvation" of the Ukrainian army, which Putin insisted was "catastrophically" depleted.
"But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans."
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have caused queues at petrol stations, widespread fuel rationing, and refinery damage from Moscow to the Black Sea 56 Russian regions currently enforce fuel restrictions In Crimea, civilians are banned from filling petrol tanks so priority can be given to military vehicles Putin stated in public remarks: 'You're well aware that problems persist for both motorists and businesses. Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations' Putin admitted Ukraine's attacks are 'obviously creating problems' and said 'we are currently seeing a certain shortage' Putin stated the shortage is 'not critical' Putin said Crimea has only 'a few days' supply' of fuel remaining Putin promised to increase air defence production and speed up refinery repairs Putin attributed his public acknowledgment to Ukraine trying to divide Russian society and weaken support for the war Ukraine's strikes have 'absolutely no impact on the situation at the front line' The Kremlin's objective remains forcing Ukrainian forces to leave four south-eastern regions Russia claims Kyiv asserts the strikes are designed to force military commanders to divert resources from the front line Putin claimed Ukrainian counter-strike proposals were attempts to buy time to regroup and rearm
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
- Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have caused widespread fuel shortages across 56 Russian regions, with rationing, long queues, and restrictions on civilian access in Crimea
- Putin publicly acknowledged the fuel crisis for the first time in weekend remarks to officials and oil executives, admitting 'certain shortage' but claiming it is 'not critical'
- Putin attributed the openness about shortages to Ukraine's strategy of dividing Russian society, while dismissing claims that strikes divert military resources from the front line
- Crimea has only days of fuel supply remaining; Putin promised increased air defence production and faster refinery repairs
- The Kremlin maintains its stated objective unchanged: forcing Ukrainian forces from four south-eastern regions Moscow claims