Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian strikes have caused fuel shortages in Russia, while also stating that he expects US negotiators to visit Moscow once the Middle East crisis subsides. In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin on Sunday, Putin said, "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. We are ready to continue negotiations and discuss all the details."
Fuel Shortages and Rationing
Putin acknowledged "a certain shortage" of fuel following Ukrainian retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure, which were sparked by his invasion of Ukraine. "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. Right now we're observing a certain shortage, but it's not critical," Putin said. He emphasized that the priority is to improve air defenses and protect fuel supplies, especially in Russian-occupied Crimea. Fuel deliveries to the Black Sea peninsula by land and sea will be increased, he added.
Fuel shortages have spread across Russia, prompting a Siberian governor to impose rationing. Igor Kobzev, governor of the Irkutsk region, announced that drivers will be limited to purchasing no more than 50 liters (13 gallons) of fuel per vehicle per day at state-run Rosneft stations. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow is actively reviewing fuel export agreements to ensure domestic needs are met.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Refineries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces struck two oil refineries inside Russia over the weekend. A drone strike sparked a blaze at a refinery in Slavyansk-na-Kubani in Russia's Krasnodar region, killing one person and wounding another in a nearby village, according to local authorities. Zelenskyy also claimed a strike on a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 km (435 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Russian authorities did not immediately report on the Yaroslavl strike, but 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."
Russian Attacks on Ukraine
In southern Ukraine, a Russian attack killed two people in Zaporizhzhia and injured 16 others, including two children, according to regional administration head Ivan Fedorov. In Russia's border region of Belgorod, 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, Ukraine's 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.
