President Vladimir Putin on Sunday conceded that Russia is experiencing “a certain shortage” of transport fuel and ordered emergency measures as Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on oil refineries disrupt domestic supply chains. Speaking at a crisis meeting with senior officials and oil industry executives broadcast on state television, Putin said queues at petrol stations persisted and that the government was considering a full ban on diesel exports, alongside injecting state fuel reserves and accelerating refinery repairs. “We must reduce to a minimum the impact of terrorist attacks on our civilian facilities and infrastructure,” he said, according to Russian news agencies.

The remarks correspond with Kyiv’s stated strategy of striking Russian energy infrastructure to erode the financial and logistical capacity of Moscow’s war effort. In a statement on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed overnight drone attacks on two refineries – the Slavyansk facility in Krasnodar region close to occupied Crimea and another in Yaroslavl north-east of Moscow – framing them as part of “operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war”. Ukrainian military spokespeople have described the campaign as legitimate retaliation for Russia’s near-daily missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Western military analysts note the strikes are complicating Russian logistics, though Moscow insists they do not alter the frontline situation.

The fuel shortages have triggered tangible disruption across Russia. Authorities in annexed Crimea declared an emergency on Friday after repeated attacks on oil depots and transport links forced the suspension of fuel sales to the public and led to rolling power cuts. Social media images verified by news agencies show long queues at filling stations in several regions, and several regional governments have introduced rationing. Putin said an inter-agency crisis task force is working around the clock, that gasoline reserves stand at 1.7 million tonnes, and that he expects July fuel output to exceed June’s levels. He also stressed the need to secure diesel supplies for the coming harvest.

The diplomatic and military context continues to shift. Putin told the ruling United Russia party congress that Russia would “undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today” and would not allow Ukraine to “impose its own terms of negotiation”. Meanwhile, according to accounts in Russian media, he indicated readiness to resume talks with US representatives once Washington is less consumed by the Iranian situation. No date has been set for such discussions. The next tangible milestone is the planned increase in July fuel production, while a decision on a comprehensive diesel export embargo remains under review.