“We have suffered for a long time”: Putin threatened a “serious response” to attacks on Russia’s energy sector
Скриншот відео
During a meeting in Beijing with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Vladimir Putin said that Russia had begun to “seriously respond” to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Russian energy. He acknowledged that this was the reason for Russia’s new attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
This is reported by Russian media.
It is noted that today, September 2, a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico took place in Beijing. During the talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Putin made a statement about strikes on energy infrastructure.
According to the Russian leader, Moscow allegedly refrained from attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure for a long time, particularly in the autumn-winter period. However, he claims, Ukrainian troops regularly struck energy facilities on Russian territory, and therefore Moscow “was forced to respond.”
“We endured for a very long time when Ukrainian troops launched constant strikes on our energy facilities. After that, they began to respond. And we respond, of course, let’s say, seriously. This is true,” Putin said.
He also added that Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy have consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for “Kyiv’s partners.” Thus, the Kremlin effectively admitted that attacks on critical infrastructure are part of a strategy to pressure Ukrainian society and its allies.
The statement came against the backdrop of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which intensified on the eve of the new autumn-winter season. Kyiv has repeatedly stressed that such actions by the Russian Federation bear the hallmarks of war crimes, as they are directed against the civilian population.
It is worth noting that Ukrainian drones hit a strategic facility on Russian territory – an oil pumping station in the city of Unecha, Bryansk region . The facility is part of the Druzhba oil pipeline system.
As reported, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that on August 19, the Druzhba oil pipeline, which had completely stopped operating due to attacks by Ukrainian drones, had resumed supplies.
Recall that on the night of August 27, the Russians attacked power and gas infrastructure facilities in six regions of Ukraine. The Ministry of Energy called this massive attack a continuation of Russia’s deliberate policy of destroying Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure on the eve of the heating season.
It was previously reported that Ukraine has information about Russia preparing new attacks on the energy sector , in particular on nuclear energy facilities.
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