Putin Says Gas Shortage Exists but Is Not Critical as Ukraine Strikes Russian Refineries

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in televised remarks on June 28 that a gas deficit exists but is not critical. He added that damage from Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities is being repaired quickly and that the drone attacks are creating obvious problems.

Taxi driver Anatoly in Moscow told Al Jazeera that he has been buying overpriced low-quality fuel that risks damaging his white Kia engine.

The government has allowed a temporary decrease in fuel quality because Western sanctions limit spare parts, he said. Anatoly, 49, also said Ukraine’s strikes on refineries and depots have caused nationwide shortages, adding that Ukraine “got us good. ” People were photographed queuing to refuel at a Rosneft station in Moscow on June 30.

Putin attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on June 22 marking the 85th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Vladimir Solovyov, a Rossiya 1 host, said in mid-June that Russians must prepare for hardships and self-sacrifice.

Telegram user Prizrak Novorossii wrote in late June that Russia should launch a massive mobilisation because of unfavourable battlefield dynamics.

Kseniya, a mother of two from Tula, told Al Jazeera she fears her son will be drafted and lacks money to send him abroad. She said the country has been told Putin brought stability but now faces total chaos. An Iskander missile struck near Vitaly Yarokhno’s apartment building in central Kyiv at 2:27 a.m.

On Thursday, destroying windows, furniture and two cars while causing only minor injuries to Yarokhno, his wife and son. Nikolay Mitrokhin, a researcher at Germany’s Bremen University, told Al Jazeera that Russia lacks sufficient Pantsir air defence systems and has no equivalent to Starlink for long-range drone control.