RUSSIA'S leadership has issued one of its clearest acknowledgements yet that the country is facing significant challenges arising from its more than four-year military campaign in Ukraine, as Ukrainian drone strikes reached key energy facilities hundreds of kilometres inside Russian territory.
Speaking at the congress of his ruling United Russia party in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia was confronting serious problems but insisted the country would overcome them while safeguarding its territorial integrity.
"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," GB News quoted him saying.
"We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities."
Putin's remarks came as Ukrainian forces claimed responsibility for strikes on oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions, targeting facilities regarded as important to Moscow's wartime fuel supply.
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said one person was killed and another injured during the attacks, which also caused damage to power infrastructure and a gas pipeline.
Russia's Ministry of Defence said it intercepted 213 Ukrainian drones during the latest wave of attacks, underscoring Kyiv's continued ability to strike strategic targets well beyond the battlefield.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operations were designed to reduce Russia's capacity to sustain its invasion.
"We continue our operations that weaken Russia's ability to wage this war. The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit – about 300km (190 miles) from the frontline."
"We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700km (430 miles) from our border."
"We will continue to respond to Russian terror. I thank our warriors for these results. I am grateful to everyone who helps us."
Beyond the military setbacks, Putin also acknowledged that Russia was experiencing fuel supply problems affecting motorists and businesses, suggesting the war was increasingly straining the country's domestic economy.
"You are well aware that problems for drivers and for businesses persist."
"Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations too."
He added: "We have to reduce to a minimum the impact of terrorist attacks on our civilian targets and infrastructure."
Putin said a government task force was working continuously to stabilise fuel supplies, while authorities were considering a complete ban on diesel exports to ease domestic shortages.
The latest escalation followed renewed Russian strikes across Ukraine on Sunday that reportedly killed four civilians, including two in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia and two others in the town of Zmiiv.
Meanwhile, Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, declared an emergency situation amid electricity disruptions and fuel shortages, prompting Kremlin-backed authorities to urge residents to limit energy consumption.
As pressure mounted on multiple fronts, Russian officials also renewed accusations that Western nations were waging a proxy conflict against Moscow.
Alexander Pastukhov, described as an expert linked to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, claimed Western countries lacked the capability to confront Russia directly and were instead relying on Ukraine.
"Let's just say they're not yet in a position to mount an open aggression against us. They're trying to do it through proxy wars."
He further asserted that Russia possessed the capability to attack Western countries directly, adding that "Westerners mistakenly perceive our restraint as weakness."
Putin's unusually candid acknowledgement of domestic difficulties comes as Ukraine continues expanding its long-range strike campaign against Russian military and energy infrastructure, exposing the growing economic and logistical costs of the conflict for Moscow even as fighting intensifies on the front lines. - June 29, 2026
