Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday conceded that Ukraine’s growing strike campaign is causing damage inside Russia, including to the economy and society, even as he sought to project confidence that the impact would remain limited.
The remarks came during a Kremlin meeting with military personnel on Russia Day, a national holiday marked by state ceremonies in Moscow.
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🇷🇺 Putin threatens further infrastructure attacks and admits to slow progress
— Barong (@Barong369) June 12, 2026
Vladimir Putin has announced new attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure should attacks on Russian territory continue. At the same time, he admitted that Russian troops in Ukraine are advancing more slowly… pic.twitter.com/IjtaR9BQuX
Putin says strikes aim to sow division
Putin said the attacks were aimed at creating internal disorder, but argued they would fail. “As for the economy: they are certainly causing us damage, but we are recovering quickly,” he said, according to Al Jazeera.
He said, “Their goal is to create a split in Russian society, sow confusion and inflict economic damage,” adding, “But they will not succeed.”
Infrastructure under pressure
The remarks came after weeks of Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure, including refineries, depots and pipelines, as well as fuel supplies in Crimea.
Kyiv had claimed an attack on a key oil refinery in Russia’s Nizhnekamsk the previous night. The Moscow Times reported that Ukraine said it hit a major oil refinery more than 1,000 kilometres from the front line.
The strikes on Crimea have contributed to the worst fuel crisis there since Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.
Key takeaways from Putin’s statements today. “Let’s all get along”
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 12, 2026
🔵 It was not Russia that started the war, but NATO.
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🔵 Schools and streets should be named after participants in the war.
🔵 Russia is… pic.twitter.com/uvutSnsWw5
Moscow vows a firmer response
Putin also said Russia needs to improve its air defences, echoing a call he had made earlier in the month.
He told the military meeting that Ukrainian strikes were damaging the economy but that Russia was “recovering quickly,” and that the country would gradually increase the force of its retaliatory strikes against Ukraine to “discourage them from attacking our civilian facilities.”
He promised Russia would escalate attacks on “the enemy’s infrastructure” for the same reason.
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War narratives collide
Ukraine has described its strikes as retaliation for Russia’s daily missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities.
Putin, meanwhile, said Russian forces were still advancing in Ukraine, though they were not moving “as quickly as we would like.”
FAQs
Q1: What did Vladimir Putin say about Ukraine's strikes on Russia?
Ans: Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes are damaging Russia's economy and society but said the country is recovering quickly and remains resilient.
Q2: Why is Ukraine targeting Russian infrastructure and oil facilities?
Ans: Ukraine says its strikes on Russian refineries, depots and other infrastructure are retaliation for Russia's continued missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
