Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged what satellite imagery and gas station queues across Russia have been saying for months: Ukrainian drone strikes are causing real fuel shortages.
The Russian president described the situation as a “certain shortage” of fuel while insisting it is “not critical.”
What happened and why it matters
Since March 2026, Ukrainian forces have conducted over two dozen long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries. The campaign has hit more than a dozen key facilities, reducing Russia’s refining capacity by up to 20% on certain days.
In some periods, Kyiv’s attacks have reportedly disabled up to 40% of Russia’s primary refining capacity.
