Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges that Ukrainian strikes are creating fuel shortages in Russia, according to an interview published by the Kremlin. Multiple outlets report that Putin says the attacks on critical, especially energy, infrastructure are “obviously” creating problems and that Russia is currently experiencing “a certain shortage” of fuel. However, the reports say he denies the shortages are critical, indicating the problem is limited rather than a full-scale crisis.
BBC, Guardian, NBC News, and Inquirer.net describe the admission as rare, with Putin framing the issue as a direct consequence of Ukraine’s repeated attacks during the war. The Guardian and Inquirer.net also note Kyiv’s position that such strikes are retribution for Russia’s near-daily barrages against Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The Daily Mail adds that at least some regions see heightened public pressure at gas stations, with customers reportedly fighting for fuel amid uncertainty. Across the coverage, outlets agree on the core point: Putin publicly recognizes shortages linked to Ukrainian infrastructure strikes while characterizing them as not critical.
