Putin shrugs off fuel shortages in Russia as he ramps up attacks on Ukraine

FE Team | Published: July 03, 2026 22:41:53

Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, July 03 (Arab News): The Russian military unleashed a massive 11-hour barrage on the Ukrainian capital overnight into Thursday morning that killed at least 21 people
Despite severe fuel shortages across Russia, President Vladimir Putin appears unbothered by Ukraine's increasing attacks on his country's oil refineries.
He has shrugged off the setback for one of the world's leading oil producing nations as "not critical," dismissed ceasefire proposals and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met.
Putin has described the attacks on Russian energy as an effort by Ukraine to distract attention from its losses on the battlefield, although analysts say the advance of Russian forces has been stymied in recent months. The Russian leader appears to believe his government can keep the fuel crisis from eroding his authority and support for the war he launched more than four years ago.
The Russian military unleashed a massive 11-hour barrage on the Ukrainian capital overnight into Thursday morning that killed at least 21 people. It was one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Two people were killed on Friday in Ukrainian strikes targeting two Russian regions close to the border, local authorities said, a day after a massive Russian attack on Kyiv left at least 30 dead.
Belgorod city mayor Valentin Demidov said in a statement on Telegram that Ukraine had "carried out a missile strike" on Friday morning.