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Putin admits fuel supply problems have created shortages in Russia as Kyiv continues attacks on his oil refineries
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Vladimir Putin has admitted his forces have faced problems in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as he warned of fuel shortages due to Ukraine’s growing attacks.
“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,” Putin said in his address to party members at the congress of United Russia.
Putin said fuel supply problems have created shortages in Russia as Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to continue strikes after Ukrainian drones struck two oil refineries overnight on Saturday.
Fire erupted at an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region and in the Yaroslavl region on Sunday, as Kyiv continued energy infrastructure attacks that have caused acute fuel shortages in parts of Russia.
“We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war. Each of our long-range sanctions means fewer resources serving Russia’s war machine, and another step toward peace,” Zelensky said.
The attacks come as Zelensky told Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war.
Estonia’s foreign minister has said stray Ukrainian drones crashing in Nato territory are a small price to pay to defeat Russia.
Nato countries have reported increasing numbers of Ukrainian drones flying into their air space, leading to travel disruptions, closed airports and the scrambling of fighter jets.
Last week an unexploded drone carrying a 5kg warhead was found in a field in Estonia and Ukraine was forced to apologise last month after Romanian fighter jets shot down a drone encroaching on Estonian airspace.
But foreign minister Margus Tsahkna has said that Estonia is looking at the bigger picture and believes the disruption is worth it.
“Of course we are not happy about [these incidents],” Tsahkna told the Financial Times. “But we are not saying to Ukraine to stop it. This is hitting the lifeline of Putin.”
Read our full story below.
Polish security services have deported nine Ukrainians and two Belarusians on suspicion of using Russian money to recruit Ukrainian refugees to demonstrate against the Kyiv government in Poland, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) said.
“The organisers aimed to gradually influence the Ukrainian refugee community in Poland and use this group to promote political slogans,” the ABW said in a statement.
It added that emotive topics including corruption scandals that have hit the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other developments in domestic politics had been used to trigger protests.
According to the agency, the individuals had links to Russia and Belarus and had been carrying out their activities since autumn 2025.
“This is an example of operations that fall outside of classic aggression, aimed at undermining public trust, fuelling tensions and exploiting people fleeing war as instruments of Russian influence,” the ABW said.
he explosion was so powerful that it sent the huge disc-shaped lid of an oil storage tank flying high above the city on a cushion of black smoke and flame.
Ukrainian drones cut through the Russian air defences last week to strike an oil refinery in Moscow for the second time in three days, amid Kyiv’s largest ever attack on the capital.
The footage quickly travelled around the world as proof of Kyiv’s poise and ability to bring the war in Ukraine back to Vladimir Putin’s doorstep. On Sunday, the Russian president admitted that Moscow is experiencing “problems” in the war and warned of fuel shortages due to Ukrainian attacks.
James C Reynolds reports:
Russian troops have taken control of the village of Bohodarivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, the RIA state news agency reported on Monday, citing the Defence Ministry.
Russia is pushing towards Kostiantynivka, a vital stronghold in Ukraine‘s eastern “fortress belt” long sought after by the Kremlin, even as its gains across the rest of the 1,200-km front line have largely stalled.
Fighting has begun to seep into the city itself. Small groups of Russian soldiers are attempting to infiltrate its outskirts, senior Ukrainian commanders said last week, suggesting close-quarters assaults could follow.
Kostiantynivka is the southernmost of four key settlements forming a defensive line central to Ukraine’s effort to hold the heavily industrialised Donetsk region.
The explosion was so powerful that it sent the huge disc-shaped lid of an oil storage tank flying high above the city on a cushion of black smoke and flame.
Ukrainian drones cut through the Russian air defences last week to strike an oil refinery in Moscow for the second time in three days, amid Kyiv’s largest ever attack on the capital.
The footage quickly travelled around the world as proof of Kyiv’s poise and ability to bring the war in Ukraine back to Vladimir Putin’s doorstep.
Vladimir Putin gave a rare acknowledgement of the impacts of Ukraine’s medium- and long-range drone campaign, as he spoke about several issues plaguing his invasion of Ukraine.
Here’s what he said:
On Russia facing problems in war with Ukraine:
“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,” Putin said.
“We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities.”
On Ukraine’s drone campaign:
“The first task is to quickly and significantly ramp up production of those air defence systems that are most needed.”
“All the strikes, wherever they hit our infrastructure, absolutely do not affect the situation on the front, on the line of combat contact,” he said.
On peace talks with Ukraine:
Putin said Russia was expecting a resumption of US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war and a new visit to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner once the “hot phase” of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran was resolved.
On continuing attacks on the war’s frontline:
Vladimir Putin said he was rejecting what he said was a new proposal by Kyiv to rein in hostilities in the conflict and Russia would press ahead with its battlefield aim of fully capturing four Ukrainian regions.
He said Moscow saw it as a means to relieve pressure on Kyiv’s forces along the two sides’ 1,250km (775mile) front line and would not be distracted by it.
“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 claimed.
“Given their catastrophic shortage of personnel, the Ukrainian Armed Forces apparently believe this could be their salvation. But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans,” he claimed.
On fuel supply shortages amid attacks on oil refineries:
Putin, addressing a meeting of senior officials on fuel supply and distribution, said Russia had to minimise the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil installations linked to the shortages.
He called for measures to ensure supplies for the farm sector and said a ban on diesel exports was under consideration.
“You are well aware that problems for drivers and for businesses persist,” Putin told the meeting, according to accounts published by Russian news agencies. “Unfortunately, there are still queues at gas stations too.”
He added: “We have to reduce to a minimum the impact of terrorist attacks on our civilian targets and infrastructure.”
Putin said gasoline reserves were being used and now stood at 1.7 million metric tons and that July production levels should exceed those recorded in June. He said a ban on diesel exports, under discussion for some time, was being considered.
“The need to introduce a complete ban on the export of diesel fuel is being considered,” he told participants.
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