Russian President Vladimir Putin assured members of the United Russia party during a congress on Sunday that the government remains capable of guaranteeing national security despite a recent rise in attacks from Ukraine. The Russian leader condemned what he characterized as terrorist strikes against the nation’s territory and its essential infrastructure facilities.
Putin acknowledged the difficulties presented by these attacks, stating that the government is fully aware of the situation and is responding accordingly. He emphasized that the state would certainly protect its citizens and uphold the inviolability of Russian borders. The president expressed confidence that the country will overcome these current challenges.
The statements arrived at a time when Ukraine has significantly ramped up its long-range drone operations, specifically targeting oil refineries, weapon manufacturing plants, and various logistics hubs. These military actions are conducted in response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. Later on Sunday, Putin noted that a primary objective for Russia is to rapidly and substantially increase the production of necessary air defense systems.
Despite the damage caused by these strikes, Putin downplayed their overall impact on the ongoing invasion. He asserted that the attacks on infrastructure have absolutely no bearing on the situation at the front lines. Furthermore, he rejected a proposal from Kyiv regarding a mutual suspension of long-range strikes, claiming that Russian counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are far more potent and destructive. He described the Ukrainian offensive as a strategic attempt to distract Moscow from its push to capture parts of the Donbas region and southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on X that his forces successfully struck two Russian oil refineries during the nation’s Constitution Day. Zelenskyy identified one target as the Slavyansk refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, located roughly 300 kilometers from the frontline. The governor of Krasnodar, Veniamin Kondratyev, reported that the strike resulted in one fatality. Additionally, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces reached a facility in the Yaroslavl region, situated approximately 700 kilometers from the border.
The broader campaign has included frequent drone strikes on infrastructure within Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. These attacks have caused fuel shortages, power outages, and travel disruptions across the peninsula, which serves as a vital logistics hub for Russian military efforts. Previously, on June 18, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow, striking a key oil refinery and causing temporary flight suspensions at local airports as residents reported oil raining from the sky.
