Putin promised to intensify strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and is convinced that Russia is successfully advancing
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia plans to intensify strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure. He made this statement during a meeting with participants of the war against Ukraine on June 12.
Vladimir Putin. Photo: Contributor Getty Images
Putin claims that in response to Ukraine's actions, Russia will continue to deliver strikes and even increase their intensity, especially against enemy infrastructure targets. He emphasized that this is already happening and will continue.
At the same time, he admitted that the strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Russian oil and energy infrastructure are damaging Russia's economy. According to him, since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 80 such strikes on Russian refineries, ports, and fuel and energy complex facilities. However, Putin added that, in his opinion, all damages are quickly repaired and do not create overly serious problems for Russia.
He also stated that Russia is allegedly alone in confronting the "collective West" and the NATO bloc, which, according to him, is putting pressure on the country. Putin claims that attempts to split Russian society or harm the economy, in his opinion, will not succeed.
Regarding military actions, he is confident that Russian troops continue to advance in the combat zone. He noted that this is not happening as quickly as desired, but, according to the Russian leader, the forward movement and establishment of control over territories continues daily and will continue in the future.
However, Putin denies that the war was initiated by Russia and that it started it:
"It was not us who unleashed the war. We did not start military actions with the beginning of the 'SMO' (Special Military Operation), no! They carried out a coup d'état in Ukraine, which forced us to take the residents of Crimea under protection. Then they unleashed the war, they did unleash the war! They began military actions in the southeast of Ukraine."