Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure have caused fuel shortages in Russia, as a Siberian region imposed a 50-litre per day fuel limit at state-run stations. The Russian president also said he expects US negotiators to visit Moscow once the Middle East crisis eases.
Putin on US Negotiations and Fuel Shortages
In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin published by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin said he expects US representatives to come to Moscow after Washington reaches an agreement with Iran over the Middle East conflict. “We expect that after all the events are over, after the active phase on the Iranian track has passed, we will see the arrival of those representatives of the US administration with whom we have already met in Moscow repeatedly,” Putin stated. “We are ready to continue negotiations and discuss all the details.”
Putin acknowledged “a certain shortage” of fuel following Ukrainian retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure. “As for strikes against critical infrastructure in general, and energy infrastructure in particular, of course these attacks on our infrastructure facilities create problems, that’s obvious,” he said. “Right now we’re observing a certain shortage, but it’s not critical.” He emphasized the need to improve air defences and protect fuel supplies, especially in Russian-occupied Crimea, where fuel deliveries by land and sea will be increased.
Fuel Rationing in Siberia
Igor Kobzev, governor of the Irkutsk region in Siberia, announced that drivers will be allowed to buy no more than 50 litres (13 gallons) of fuel per vehicle per day at state-run Rosneft fuel stations, as shortages spread across Russia. Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said Moscow was actively reviewing fuel export agreements to avoid compromising domestic needs.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Refineries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces struck two oil refineries inside Russia over the weekend. A drone strike sparked a blaze at a refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, Krasnodar region, killing one person and wounding another in a nearby village, local authorities reported. Zelenskyy also claimed another refinery in the Yaroslavl region, about 700km (435 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was hit during night-time strikes. Local governor Mikhail Evraev reported that some roads between Moscow and Yaroslavl were temporarily closed due to “an enemy attack by Ukrainian drones.” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “Each [strike] means a reduction in the resources that fuel the Russian war machine, and another step toward peace.”
Casualties and Drone Attacks
A Russian attack killed two people in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine, and injured 16 others, including two children, according to regional administration head Ivan Fedorov. In Russia’s Belgorod border region, Ukrainian drone strikes killed one person and injured another earlier on Sunday, said acting local governor Alexander Shuvayev. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 213 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over Russia, occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia attacked with 142 long-range strike drones and eight missiles overnight, of which 125 drones and seven missiles were intercepted.
