Russian President Putin concedes gasoline deficits following Ukrainian attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has conceded that his country is experiencing "a certain shortage" of fuel, as revealed in a Kremlin-published interview on Sunday, following a series of Ukrainian strikes in their ongoing four-year conflict.

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Ukraine views these attacks as justified retaliation for Russia's nearly daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure, which began in February 2022, according to Kyiv.

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Putin acknowledged that strikes on critical infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, pose significant problems, stating "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," and noting that Russia is currently observing a fuel shortage, albeit not a critical one.

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The Russian leader emphasized that the primary objective is to enhance the country's anti-aircraft defense capabilities and ensure a steady supply of fuel, especially to Crimea.

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On Friday, authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared a state of "emergency situation" due to fuel shortages and power outages resulting from Ukrainian attacks on the region's logistics chains and oil facilities.

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Russia annexed the territory from Ukraine in 2014, a move that has not been recognized by the vast majority of countries.

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In a speech to the United Russia party congress, Putin vowed to guarantee security and overcome challenges as Ukraine intensifies its retaliatory strikes within Russia, stating "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,".

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He also assured party members that Russia would undoubtedly overcome the challenges it faces, including terrorist attacks on its territory and infrastructure facilities.

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Putin's speech came shortly after a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia's southern Krasnodar region killed one person and sparked a fire at a refinery, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as part of the "operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war", and noted that the strike hit the Slavyansk oil refinery, approximately 300 kilometers from the frontline.

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Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine had reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, about 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, in a statement made on X on Sunday.

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Last week, another Ukrainian attack caused a major fire at a refinery southeast of Moscow, resulting in thick black smoke enveloping the capital's suburbs.