Putin Says Russia Preparing Large-Scale Strikes on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN — WEB DESK: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is preparing large-scale strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, framing the planned attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure and oil refineries as the war enters another period of intensified long-range attacks.
Speaking after meetings in Bishkek, Putin said preparations were underway for major attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy system. The statement came as Russian forces continued a sustained aerial campaign against Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions.
Putin said the planned action was a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure and oil refineries. Ukraine has sharply expanded its long-range drone campaign against Russian energy and industrial facilities, arguing that such sites contribute to Moscow’s ability to wage war.
The development raises the prospect of further pressure on Ukraine’s electricity and heating networks as the country approaches the colder months.
Putin Links Planned Strikes to Ukrainian Attacks
According to Putin, Russia intends to respond to Ukraine’s campaign against Russian energy facilities with intensified attacks of its own.
The Russian president also reacted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent warning to airlines and insurers that Ukrainian long-range drones had effectively made Russian airspace unsafe.
Putin characterised such statements as equivalent to declaring “state terrorism” and said Moscow would find a way to respond.
That description represents Putin’s political and legal characterisation of Ukrainian attacks. It should not be presented as an independently established legal finding that Ukraine has committed state terrorism.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has argued that Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike capability is intended to increase the cost to Russia of continuing the war. Reuters reported that he warned airlines and insurance companies on September 1 that Ukrainian drones were increasingly capable of operating over Russian territory.
Russian Attacks on Kyiv Intensify
Putin’s comments come during another major escalation in Russian attacks against Ukraine.
Russia struck Kyiv and the surrounding region for a sixth consecutive day, with a prolonged aerial assault killing at least 12 people, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attacks involved missiles and drones and also affected other regions of the country.
Russia said its attacks were directed at military-related infrastructure, while Ukrainian authorities reported civilian casualties and damage.
The competing descriptions are important: Moscow regularly says its long-range strikes are directed at military or military-supporting targets, while Ukraine says Russian missiles and drones repeatedly damage civilian homes, transport systems and essential infrastructure.
Individual targeting claims can be difficult to independently verify during ongoing attacks.
Ukraine Increasing Attacks Inside Russia
Ukraine has simultaneously expanded strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted Russian oil refineries, fuel facilities and other infrastructure that Kyiv says supports Moscow’s war effort.
Those attacks are having measurable consequences for Russia’s energy sector.
Draft Russian government forecasts obtained by Reuters show Moscow has lowered its expected 2026 oil production to 494.2 million metric tons, or around 9.88 million barrels per day, which would represent its lowest annual output since 2009.
Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries have contributed to reductions in fuel production and domestic gasoline shortages, although sanctions, wartime economic disruption and other factors are also affecting Russia’s energy sector.
Russia has responded by imposing restrictions on exports of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel in an effort to protect domestic supplies.
Energy Infrastructure Again at Centre of War
Ukraine’s power system has repeatedly been targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Large-scale attacks on electricity generation, transmission networks and other infrastructure have forced Ukraine to undertake repairs, impose emergency restrictions and strengthen protection around critical facilities.
Putin’s latest statement indicates that energy infrastructure could again become a major focus of Russia’s long-range campaign.
The precise scale, timing and targets of any forthcoming strikes have not been publicly disclosed.
That distinction is important. Putin’s statement and Russian reporting indicate that preparations are underway, but they do not establish which power stations, substations or other facilities would be attacked.
Russia Claims Battlefield Gains in Donetsk
Putin also used his latest remarks to claim further Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.
He said Russian forces captured approximately 270 square kilometres in the Donetsk region during August and claimed Ukrainian troops had been surrounded in some areas.
Reuters said it was unable to independently verify those battlefield claims.
Russian forces are continuing efforts to advance toward the strategically important eastern cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, part of Moscow’s wider campaign to gain control of the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk.
Battlefield claims from both Russia and Ukraine frequently differ, and territorial changes should therefore be verified against independent mapping and multiple sources before being presented as confirmed.
Ukraine Warns Russia of Further Long-Range Attacks
Zelenskyy has signalled that Ukraine intends to continue its campaign inside Russia.
His warning that Russian airspace is becoming increasingly unsafe came after Ukrainian forces expanded their use of long-range drones against refineries, logistics infrastructure and other targets.
Ukraine argues that targeting Russia’s energy sector reduces Moscow’s revenue and disrupts fuel supplies used by its military.
Russia describes many Ukrainian long-range attacks as terrorism, particularly when they cause civilian casualties or damage infrastructure that Moscow says has no direct military role.
Neither side’s characterisation should automatically be treated as an independent legal determination.
New Escalation Raises Winter Energy Concerns
The possibility of another concentrated Russian campaign against Ukraine’s electricity system is particularly significant as autumn approaches.
Repeated damage to generation and transmission infrastructure could affect electricity supplies, heating, industry, transportation and other essential services.
Ukraine has spent years repairing and decentralising parts of its energy network while seeking additional air-defence systems from Western partners.
Kyiv has again called for stronger air-defence support following the latest Russian missile and drone attacks.
The combination of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and Ukrainian attacks against Russia’s refineries increasingly places energy security at the centre of both sides’ long-range strategies.
Claim Putin “Ordered” Strikes Needs Qualification
The original Express report says Putin ordered the Russian armed forces to prepare and conduct major attacks against Ukraine’s energy system.
Current international reporting provides a somewhat more cautious formulation: Reuters reports Putin saying that preparations were underway for large-scale strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For that reason, the publication-ready headline uses “Putin Says Russia Preparing” rather than asserting that a newly documented formal military order has independently been confirmed.
What is clear is that Moscow is publicly signalling an intention to intensify attacks against Ukraine’s energy sector while describing the move as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
With both sides expanding long-range operations against strategically important infrastructure, the latest statements point toward a further escalation in the energy dimension of the war.
