Putin vows escalation as Ukrainian drone strikes cripple Russias fuel network
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11 months · 9 summary articles
Putin digs in as Ukraine’s drone campaign cripples Russian fuel network
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rebuffed fresh calls for peace talks and vowed to escalate the war in Ukraine after a week of Ukrainian drone strikes that have crippled Russia’s domestic fuel supply, set tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov and left more than 90 per cent of Russia’s regions rationing petrol and diesel.
Three sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters on Wednesday that Putin had “dug in his heels” on seizing the remainder of Ukraine’s Donetsk region and dismissed proposals for a front-line ceasefire, saying the attacks had only hardened his resolve to keep fighting. “There is a high probability of escalation in the months ahead,” one source said, without specifying its form. Another said Putin had recently admonished advisers who urged compromise, insisting Russian forces would soon take Donbas.
The strikes have disabled at least 43 per cent of Russia’s refining capacity, according to Kyiv, and triggered a nationwide fuel crisis. On Wednesday, Moscow banned diesel exports until the end of the month and ordered subsidies for residents of occupied Crimea, where Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said Sevastopol was receiving only a third of its daily fuel needs. “The situation hasn’t yet returned to normal,” he told state media.
Ukrainian forces hit oil depots in the Tver and Stavropol regions overnight, sending black smoke over industrial sites and setting two tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov, Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones also struck a reserve fuel storage 800 km from the front line, an oil-pumping station in Ufa nearly 1,500 km away and an oil-loading terminal in the Rostov region. “We have long proposed that Russia end this war,” Zelenskyy said. “Every day of delay should bring the feeling of war to where it all began — to Russia.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s refusal to negotiate under pressure, calling US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Ukrainian strikes could hasten peace a “misconception.” “We see certain misconceptions within the White House administration — that by escalating military pressure it can help move to a peace settlement,” Peskov told reporters. “That is a mistaken view.” He said Russia would respond by “creating a larger security zone,” a euphemism for further territorial seizure.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 94 long-range strike drones and two ballistic missiles overnight, with 72 drones jammed or intercepted. Nineteen drones and both missiles inflicted damage at 13 locations. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed 73 Ukrainian drones were downed between late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Amid the escalation, Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara that Kyiv’s deep strikes into Russia were “an escalation that can help lead to an end” to the war. “It’s an escalation needed before ending the war,” he said after meeting Zelenskyy. The US president, who had pledged to resolve the conflict in “24 hours” after taking office in January 2025, acknowledged the war had proven harder than expected. “We’ve settled a lot of wars,” he said. “And this one is the one that I thought maybe would be the easiest.”
The Kremlin’s defiance contrasts with mounting domestic strain. Social media posts from Russians described long queues at petrol stations and criticised the government’s handling of the crisis. “The 21st century,” one user wrote on Telegram. “Cars should be flying by now, but we just keep going further and further back in time.”
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Articles
⚡️Putin calls for Crimea fuel subsidies as Ukraine once again hammers shadow fleet. On the same day Putin spoke, the Russian government announced it would ban the export of diesel fuel until at least the end of the month.
bluesky_Kyiv Independent · about 2 hours ago
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bluesky_Kyiv Independent · about 2 hours ago
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telegram_Meduza · about 2 hours ago
Putins superyacht moved to northern Russian port, likely to protect it from Ukrainian drones
telegram_Meduza · about 2 hours ago
+++ Ukraine-Krieg +++: Putin gegen Friedensgespräche – Mögliche Angriffe auf Nato-Ziele Russische Saratow-Raffinerie stoppt nach Drohnenangriff Betrieb +++ Peskow warnt vor Flugverbotszone über der Ukraine +++ Ukraine zu Nord Stream: Staatliche Stellen nicht verwickelt +++ Der Newsblog.
handelsblatt · about 2 hours ago
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die presse · about 2 hours ago
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themoscowtimes · about 2 hours ago
Russia and Sahel States Pledge Stronger Military Ties Amid Insurgent Attacks Russia said it would continue to help strengthen the armed forces of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
themoscowtimes · about 2 hours ago
Ukraine targets Russian oil depots and tankers in drone attacks Ukraine hit two oil tankers in Sea of Azov and several oil facilities across Russia in drone attacks.
aljazeera · about 2 hours ago
![Thursday, July 9, 2026
Trump gives Zelensky green light to produce Patriot missiles . . . . . Assuming Russia has lost the war is dangerous misreading . . . . . Ukraine is looking for workers while millions of women remain outside the labor market . . . . . [Video] Battle-tested, contest ready: Inside Ukraines drone competition . . . . . and more](https://files.mastodon.social/cache/media_attachments/files/116/889/743/910/628/412/original/f303557f1b6a84ec.jpg)
Thursday, July 9, 2026 Trump gives Zelensky green light to produce Patriot missiles . . . . . Assuming Russia has lost the war is dangerous misreading . . . . . Ukraine is looking for workers while millions of women remain outside the labor market . . . . . [Video] Battle-tested, contest ready: Inside Ukraines drone competition . . . . . and more
mastodon bot · about 2 hours ago
#Ukraine strikes Russian ships near Crimea, escalating attacks on fuel suppliesThe attacks appear to be the latest phase of Ukraines bid to choke off supplies and routes into and out of occupied Crimea. #BBC #News
mastodon bot · about 2 hours ago
KYIV POST: Kremlin Pushes Back on Trump Over Claims Ukrainian Refinery Strikes Help End Russias War After Trump said he considered Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil the necessary escalations to end the war, the Kremlin called the remarks misconceptions and suggested that Russia would respond by trying to seize more Ukrainian lands. #Ukraine
mastodon bot · about 2 hours ago
Putin set on escalating the war in Ukraine, sources close to the Kremlin tell Reuters. He has dug in his heels on seizing Donbas. #Meduza #Ukraine #Putin
mastodon bot · about 2 hours ago
KYIV POST: Trump Weighs Boosting Military Aid to Help Ukraine Break Through Russian Lines Donald Trump is considering expanding military support for Ukraine to help its forces achieve a breakthrough on the battlefield, signaling what European officials see as a significant shift in Washingtons approach toward Kyiv. #Europe #World
mastodon bot · about 2 hours ago
Right to self-defence: Ukraine tells Greece Russian vessels remain a target Ukraine has told Greece that it will continue striking Russian vessels on the open sea, citing its right to self-defence under the UN Charter.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
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ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Kremlin says Trump is mistaken about impact of strikes on Russia Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the administration of US President Donald Trump is mistaken if it believes Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory will help bring the war to a peaceful end.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Over 40 of Poles say military aid to Ukraine has been excessive – poll According to a poll, 44.8 of Poles believe that the military assistance Poland has provided to Ukraine since the start of Russias full-scale invasion has been excessive.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Village head injured in Russian drone attack on car in Sumy Oblast with drone A village head has been injured in a Russian drone attack on a service vehicle in the Stetskivka district in Sumy Oblast. Information on the details of the attack is being gathered.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Russians attack fixed-route minibus and civilians with drones in Kherson: 22 injured – photo, video Russian drone attacks on civilians in Kherson left two people dead and 22 injured, including a teenager.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Furious Putin attempts to quell panic in Russia as Ukraine hits two dozen oil tankers on top as well as refineries in just one week He desperately sought to claim that widening economic disruption is temporary, denying that the Kyiv onslaught would break him.
dailymail · about 3 hours ago
Russia launches court appeal against World Athletics ban due to Ukraine war World Athletics has excluded Russia from international events since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022
independent · about 3 hours ago
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv hits 12 Russian oil tankers as Putin grapples with nationwide fuel shortages Kyiv has amped up its attacks on Russian tankers in recent days
independent · about 3 hours ago
Security Council LIVE: Emergency meeting on Ukraine amid spike in civilian war casualties The Security Council has called an emergency meeting Thursday morning on Ukraine amid escalating deadly Russian drone and missile attacks that are causing multiple civilian casualties and widespread damage to homes and other critical infrastructure in the more than four-year-old war. Stay tuned for live updates.
unitednation · about 3 hours ago
World faces growing diesel supply crunch as Russia cuts off exports Ukraine drone strikes have hammered Russias refineries
financial times · about 3 hours ago
Ukraines drone playbook is wreaking havoc in Russia — and upending where NATO wants to invest Ukraines deep drone strikes on Russian refineries are reshaping the war and pushing NATO toward a $40 billion counter-drone plan.
cnbc · about 3 hours ago
Russia bans oil exports as Ukraine strikes cause fuel shortages On July 8, Russia imposed a ban on diesel exports in response to widespread domestic gasoline and diesel supply issues caused by ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure by Kiev. Ukraine has also been striking ships, as part of a new strategy to bring the war back to Russia by increasing the pain experienced across the Russian economy in an effort to push them to the negotiating table.
france24 · about 3 hours ago
US gives Ukraine licence to build Patriot missiles for its air defence system Russian strikes on Ukraine on July 8 killed at least seven people as Kyivs army said it had hit several Russian tankers, in fresh overnight attacks ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky at a NATO summit. During the meeting Trump said that the US will give a license to Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence systems to help counter Russian missile attacks. A huge coup for Kyiv which has badly needed the technology for the war.
france24 · about 3 hours ago
Ukrainians Cautiously Welcome Trumps Announcement About Patriot Missile Systems President Trump said the United States would license Ukraine to produce Patriots, which can intercept ballistic missiles. But it could be months or years before those are ready.
new york times · about 3 hours ago
⚡ NEWSUkraine strikes Russian ships near CrimeaUkraine has launched attacks on Russian ships near Crimea, marking an escalation in efforts to choke off fuel supplies and logistical routes into and out of the occupied peninsula.📰 #Military #Shipping #Geopolitics #GeoWire
mastodon bot · about 3 hours ago