Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on June 12 that Ukraine’s increased attacks are damaging Russia’s economy and society. Speaking via state news agency TASS, Putin said Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, storage facilities, and pipelines deep inside Russian territory are causing harm, but added that the economy will recover swiftly.
“They are definitely causing us damage, but we are recovering quickly,” Putin said, while asserting that the attacks aim to “sow chaos” in society. However, he stressed they will not succeed in “dividing society or causing economic harm the way they intend.”
Ukrainian attacks in recent weeks have focused on Russia’s energy infrastructure, particularly oil refineries, storage depots, and pipelines serving oil and gas exports. A drone strike on a key oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk was confirmed by Kyiv. Long-range strikes combined with attacks on fuel supply chains in Crimea—the peninsula Russia annexed in 2014—have triggered the worst fuel crisis there since 2014, with long lines of cars forming at gas stations.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that the long-range strike campaign is reducing Russia’s production capacity, while medium-range strikes disrupt Russia’s ability to transport the gasoline and diesel it can still produce. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the fuel shortage in Crimea and said “measures are being taken” to address it.
Despite the damage, Putin vowed that Russian forces would intensify strikes on “enemy infrastructure” to “prevent attacks on our civilian facilities.” He also called for improving air defense systems—the second time this month he has made such a request.
On the Ukrainian side, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii said Ukraine had regained more territory than it lost in May, reversing a trend of net monthly advances by Russia. Ukraine insists its strikes are legitimate retaliation for Russia’s daily missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin recently ruled out direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the war.
