Putin admits ‘problems’ as Ukraine ramps up attacks deep inside Russia

Putin’s remarks came as Ukraine continued one of its most sustained campaigns of long-range drone attacks since the war began more than four years ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Russia is facing “problems” as Ukraine intensifies its long-range attacks deep inside Russian territory, while insisting that Moscow will secure its borders and overcome the growing challenges.Speaking at the United Russia party congress on Sunday, Putin admitted the mounting pressure created by Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and energy facilities but sought to reassure the public that the Kremlin remained in control.“Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia’s borders,” Putin said.“We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities,” he added.His remarks came as Ukraine continued one of its most sustained campaigns of long-range drone attacks since the war began more than four years ago. Russian authorities said debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, killing one person and injuring another. Ukraine also claimed to have struck a second refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, though Russian officials did not immediately confirm the attack.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes were aimed at weakening Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its war effort.“Our ‘long-range sanctions’ reached two oil refineries in Russia,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. “Each (strike) means a reduction in the resources that fuel the Russian war machine, and another step toward peace.”Kyiv has significantly expanded attacks on Russian military-industrial and energy facilities in recent months, seeking to disrupt fuel supplies, damage weapons production and bring the impact of the war closer to Russian civilians. The latest strikes follow Ukraine’s recent attack on the Titan-Barrikady defence complex in Volgograd and what Moscow described as one of the largest Ukrainian drone assaults of the conflict.Despite Ukraine’s growing ability to hit targets hundreds of kilometres inside Russia, Moscow continues its own aerial campaign. Overnight, Russia launched 142 drones and eight missiles at Ukraine, according to Kyiv, as the conflict entered another phase of escalating cross-border strikes.