Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war

 Vladimir Putin admitted that Russia is experiencing “problems” in its war with Ukraine as Kyiv’s drone strikes destroyed more oil depots on Sunday.

He made what appeared to be a rare admission of setbacks, commenting on the latest round of Ukraine’s retaliatory strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure.

“Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia’s borders,” Putin said at the congress of United Russia, his ruling party.

“We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities.”

Putin’s speech came just hours after a drone strike by Ukraine caused a fire in a refinery and killed one person in the southern Russian Krasnodar region.

It follows a campaign of long-range strikes that have reached as far as Moscow, humiliating Russian defences and posing serious questions for Putin.

The strikes have been so successful that some senior Nato officials believe they are weakening Putin’s grip on power, The Telegraph understands.

Recent losses on the front lines have also contributed to an assessment that Putin’s premiership is facing a period of increased danger.

On Sunday, Ukraine struck the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery, one of the largest in southern Russia, located near the Crimean peninsula, which is occupied by Russia. With a capacity of about 100,000 barrels per day, the refinery supplies fuel for domestic use as well as export.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the region, said several houses were damaged by falling debris during the “massive” assault.

“Krasnodar region came under a massive enemy drone attack. Sadly, one person was killed,” he said. Another person was injured.

The governor added that a power line and gas pipe were damaged. The Russian defence ministry said it had intercepted 213 drones during the latest round of strikes.

The Ukrainians also struck an oil refinery in the region of Yaroslavl, east of Moscow. The governor of the region said that because of the drone attack, temporary limits had been placed on traffic on some roads that lead to Moscow.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said: “We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war. The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit – about 300km (190 miles) from the frontline. We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700km (430 miles) from our border.

“We will continue to respond to Russian terror. I thank our warriors for these results. I am grateful to everyone who helps us.”

Last week, another Ukrainian attack caused a major fire at a refinery in the south-east of Moscow, shrouding the capital’s suburbs in plumes of thick, black smoke.

Crimea on Friday declared an “emergency situation” amid power cuts and fuel shortages. The peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, is facing increasing Ukrainian aerial attacks.

It has had to deal with rolling blackouts over the past week, and the Kremlin-backed authorities have asked the peninsula’s inhabitants to limit their energy consumption.

Kyiv’s drone attacks have caused acute fuel shortages in several other parts of Russia, one of the world’s biggest oil producers, with petrol shortages and rationing reported in some parts of the country.

Putin acknowledged on Sunday that fuel supply problems had created shortages in Russian regions, and said a task force was working on ensuring sufficient quantities were provided throughout the country.

Addressing a meeting of senior officials on the situation with fuel distribution, he called for measures to ensure the farm sector had sufficient supplies, and said a ban on diesel exports was under consideration.

Ukraine used home-made Flamingo missiles on Friday night to strike a Russian military facility more than 300 miles behind the front line.

The long-range missiles targeted the Titan-Barrikady research and production centre in the city of Volgograd.

The Flamingo missile has a reported range of around 2,000 miles, which allows Kyiv to launch strikes deep inside Russian territory.