President Vladimir Putin stated that Russians must be 'prepared for anything' as he indicated a possible escalation in the ongoing war against Ukraine. During his speech at Russia's Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he expressed no expectation for an early resolution to the four-year conflict. He commented on the current fuel shortages, attributed to Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, saying, 'We must be prepared for anything.' Putin emphasized that readiness would deter adversaries from causing harm. He also mentioned plans to 'launch retaliatory strikes' on Ukraine to prevent further attacks on Russian fuel supplies.
The remarks come amid a challenging summer for Russia, with Ukrainian drones targeting oil refineries and retail warehouses. In response, Russia has intensified its air operations against Ukraine, targeting food storage facilities and civilian areas. Putin dismissed the prospect of peace talks and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of 'state terrorism,' stating, 'We don't negotiate with terrorists.'
According to Russia's Defence Ministry, over 43,000 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia and Crimea from June to August. While Ukraine has not disclosed the number of drones it launches, Zelensky has indicated plans to expand these operations, referring to them as 'long-range sanctions.'
Ukrainian officials assert they will continue efforts to pressure Russia to end the conflict, even as Moscow escalates its bombardment. Zelensky and others have suggested that Russia may initiate another mobilization following the upcoming legislative elections. Putin has denied these claims, labeling them as an 'information attack by the enemy.'
NATO leaders have warned of Russia's increasingly aggressive 'hybrid' campaign involving sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation across Europe. Germany recently accused Russia of an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and reported multiple sabotage incidents targeting critical infrastructure.
Putin has also renewed threats against Britain, particularly following the UK's agreement to supply Ukraine with classified missile blueprints. In a response to a question about potential military targets in the UK, he stated, 'That's a secret, a military secret,' indicating that British military facilities in Ukraine are 'absolutely' targets for Russia.
The Russian leader made these comments during a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.