President Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Russian state television on Sunday, June 28th where he appeared to admit that logistical issues are undermining Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine.
Putin said it was noted that fuel supplies are being disrupted, both to frontline combatants and for civilian use. The cause of the disruption is Ukrainian long-range attacks, particularly those on Russian oil refineries. Recent targets included oil refineries in the regions of Krasnodar—where one person was killed and another injured—and Yaroslavl. Both sites are located hundreds of miles from the border with Ukraine.
Despite the setbacks, Putin asserted:
We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities.
Putin also delivered remarks at United Russia’s pre-election congress on Sunday. During the speech—not for the first time—former president and Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev appeared to fall asleep in public.
Putin’s remarks are a rare admission that not all is going to plan with the “special military operation” that has now outlasted the First World War.
