Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s repeated strikes on Russian energy infrastructure were creating disruptions, noting that the attacks “of course” cause “problems.” He said Russia was experiencing a “certain shortage” of fuel, but insisted it was manageable and not “critical.”

Putin told officials and party audiences that authorities were responding to the situation, with efforts focused on securing fuel supplies—particularly to Crimea—and on reducing the impact of attacks through stronger air-defense capacity. He also referenced continued issues for drivers and businesses, including persistent queues at gas stations.

He framed the pressure from Ukrainian strikes as part of a broader campaign against Russia’s ability to function, while maintaining that Moscow would continue its military approach and address the challenges internally.