Putin admits Ukraine strikes are causing fuel shortages across Russia

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Ukrainian long-range strikes on critical infrastructure are causing fuel supply shortages across Russia, impacting motorists, businesses, and agriculture.
• Ukraine’s drone attacks have targeted Russian oil refineries and depots far from the front lines, including recent strikes on facilities in Krasnodar and Yaroslavl, leading to widespread fuel shortages in regions such as Crimea, Siberia, and Moscow.
• Videos reveal long queues, conflicts, and frustration at Russian gas stations, with some incidents escalating to physical altercations, highlighting the growing public distress caused by the fuel crisis.
• Opposition figures and analysts link the shortages directly to Ukraine’s effective bombing campaign on Russian refining capacity, describing it as a significant pressure point on Putin’s regime amid broader economic challenges from the ongoing war.
• Economic experts warn that Russia’s war-driven economy is under increasing strain, with rising deficits and potential spending cuts, signaling that the cumulative impact of military conflict and infrastructure attacks is intensifying internal pressures.