Putin Says Ukrainian Drone Strikes Aim To Divide Russians in Russia Day Comments

By AFP June 12, 2026 Vyacheslav Prokofiev / Pool / AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Ukraine's increasing drone strikes on Russia aimed to “sow confusion” and damage the country's economy. Ukraine has hit ever deeper into Russia in recent months, regularly hitting oil refineries and export hubs. “Their goal is to create a split in Russian society, sow confusion and inflict economic damage,” Putin told Russian soldiers in a Kremlin meeting. “But they will not succeed,” he added. The comments came hours after Kyiv said it hit a major oil refinery over 1,000 kilometres (around 620 miles) from the front line. Putin admitted that Ukrainian strikes had caused “economic damage” but claimed that “everything was quickly restored.” It has been difficult to assess just how damaging the strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have been. Ukraine has called the strikes fair retaliation for the daily barrage of drones and missiles that Russia sends towards Ukrainian towns and cities. Putin said Moscow needed to improve its air defenses, in the second such call this month. The Russian leader compared the West to 19th-century French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and 20th-century Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler — both of whom tried to take Russian territory — and praised Russian assault groups for “coming in, taking control and securing territory for Russia.” He also claimed that the Russian armed forces had more than 700,000 personnel involved in its war in Ukraine. Putin recently rejected the prospect of face-to-face talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to end more than four years of war. Read more about: Ukraine war , Putin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Ready for Ukraine Talks 'Without Preconditions' – Kremlin Russia is signaling readiness for Ukraine peace talks "without preconditions," though key demands on territory and NATO remain. 1 Min read Putin Blasts 'Neo-Nazis' in Ukraine on Holocaust Remembrance Day Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday repeated a claim that neo-Nazis were committing crimes in Ukraine — an allegation Moscow has used to justify... opinion Leonid Gozman Once Unthinkable, Capitulation Could Still Be Russia's Saving Grace The war started by Vladimir Putin has no goals that can be achieved. It's not about trying to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO — that can&rsquo... Putin Visits Russian Troops, Claims 'Moral Rightness' in New Year Address Updates with Zelensky's comments and color from Moscow and recasts throughout. MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin said in his televised New Year's...