Putin admits fuel shortages as Ukraine steps up refinery strikes

Ukraine's drone campaign against Russia's oil system has pushed Vladimir Putin into an unusual public admission: critical infrastructure strikes are creating "problems" and a "certain shortage" of fuel. He made the comments in an interview with state television journalist Pavel Zarubin and again at the United Russia party congress in Moscow, days after another wave of attacks on refineries and fuel logistics.

Putin said damaged facilities were being restored quickly and that Russia would import more fuel and speed repairs. He also promised stronger air defenses. Ukraine has increasingly aimed at oil refineries, depots, pipelines and fuel supplies into occupied Crimea, targeting the network that keeps fuel moving inside Russia and into Russian-held territory.

The pace of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries has doubled since the start of 2026, with full or partial shutdowns of oil processing and lower output of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Localized fuel shortages have spread across a growing number of regions and have affected motorists, freight operators and military logistics.

Ukraine said it struck the Gazprom Neft Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya on June 18 for the second time in a week. Russia's Ministry of Defense said it intercepted about 555 Ukrainian drones that night, while Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said about 180 were shot down as they approached the capital. In a June 16 strike, a primary refining unit accounting for 53% of the plant's capacity was damaged. The refinery processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024, producing 2.9 million tons of petrol and 3.2 million tons of diesel, making it the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region.