Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin admits ‘problems’ in invasion and warns of fuel shortage from Kyiv’s strikes
Vladimir Putin has admitted his forces have faced problems in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as he warned of fuel shortages due to Ukraine’s growing attacks. “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 in his address to party members at the congress of United Russia. Putin said fuel supply problems have created shortages in Russia as Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to continue strikes after Ukrainian drones struck two oil refineries overnight on Saturday. Fire erupted at an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region and in the Yaroslavl region on Sunday, as Kyiv continued energy infrastructure attacks that have caused acute fuel shortages in parts of Russia. “We continue our operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war. Each of our long-range sanctions means fewer resources serving Russia’s war machine, and another step toward peace,” Zelensky said. The attacks come as Zelensky told Putin to “get out of Ukraine” and “take that step toward peace” after approving a 40-day offensive to “influence” Russia to end the war.Putin admits Russia facing problems in Ukraine war: 'Aware of them' Vladimir Putin has admitted his forces have faced problems in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as he warned of fuel shortages due to Ukraine’s growing attacks. “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 yesterday, speaking at the congress of his ruling party, United Russia. “We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities,” the Russian president added. Putin acknowledged at the meeting in the Kremlin with government ministers and other officials that the strikes had triggered fuel shortages in various Russian regions but that Russia was dealing with them. In a separate conversation with Russian state television interviewer, Putin said Russia needed to boost its air defence capacity to counter intensified Ukrainian drone attacks aimed mainly at its oil industry. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 09:00Ukrainian brigade commander found dead – report A senior military commander of Ukraine army was found dead yesterday, officials said. Colonel Volodymyr Konnikov, the commander of Ukraine's 154th Separate Mechanised Brigade, was reportedly found dead, Ukraine's Operational Command South said, adding that circumstances were under investigation. "On Sunday, 28 June, the commander of the 154th Separate Mechanised Brigade, Colonel Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Konnikov, was found dead. The circumstances of the officer's death are being investigated," the command said in a statement. "Colonel Volodymyr Kononnikov was an officer devoted to Ukraine and the military, a responsible commander who cared about the personnel and needs of his unit," it added. However, Zaporizhzhia regional police later said that a commander of a military unit had been found dead with a gunshot wound, but did not name Konnikov. The circumstances surrounding the death have not been disclosed but officials have launched an investigation. A criminal case under Article 115 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which covers intentional homicide has been opened. "Police are establishing the circumstances surrounding the death of the military officer," the Zaporizhzhia regional police said in a statement. "The commander of one of the military units was found dead with a gunshot wound,” it said. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 08:30 Arpan Rai29 June 2026 08:15Russian attacks kill five in Ukraine, local officials say Russian attacks killed at least four people on Sunday in Ukraine's southeastand northeast and one in Sumy, regional officials said. Strikes on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured 16, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram. Pictures posted online by the governor showed a building ablaze and parts of a neighborhood reduced to rubble. In the northeastern border region of Kharkiv, a frequent Russian target, a missile strike on the town of Zmiiv killed one person and injured eight, including two children, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Police in the Kharkiv region also said an officer was killed as he was trying to organise the evacuation of residents in another community further north. In the Sumy region, also on the Russian border, the regional governor said an elderly woman was killed during the day in an area near the border. A policeman rescues a cat during search and rescue works in the damaged residential building following Russia's missile attack in Kharkiv (AP) Arpan Rai29 June 2026 08:05Russia eyeing Ukraine's 'fortress belt' Kostiantynivka despite losses Russia is grinding its way into Kostiantynivka, a key stronghold in Ukraine's eastern "fortress belt" long coveted by the Kremlin, even as its gains across the rest of the 1,200-km front line have largely stalled. Fighting has begun to seep into the city itself. Small groups of Russian soldiers are attempting to infiltrate its outskirts, senior Ukrainian commanders said last week, suggesting close-quarters assaults could follow. Kostiantynivka is the southernmost of four key settlements forming a defensive line central to Ukraine's effort to hold the heavily industrialised Donetsk region. The push towards it underscores Moscow's enduring manpower advantage, even as Ukrainian mid-range drone strikes on logistics have weakened its fighting capabilities, analysts said. “The effect (of mid-range strikes) hasn't been so great that it would have forced the Russians to suspend their offensive," said Emil Kastehelmi of the Black Bird conflict analysis team in Finland. “So even though Russia has been taking increasingly heavy losses in the rear, they are still able to continue their offensives, at least in certain sectors,” he said. Occupying Kostiantynivka would provide Russian forces a foothold from which to move north along the belt, now the central axis of their campaign. But any advance would likely be long and bloody for its forces, in a possible echo of other costly sieges of eastern cities like Pokrovsk and Avdiivka. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 07:57Putin admits Russia facing 'certain shortage' of fuel amid Ukrainian attacks Vladimir Putin yesterday acknowledged Russia is facing “a certain shortage” of fuel, coinciding with Ukraine’s increased attacks on oil refineries in several parts of the country. In an interview published by the Kremlin yesterday, Putin said: “As for strikes against critical infrastructure in general, and energy infrastructure in particular, of course these attacks on our infrastructure facilities create problems, that’s obvious”. “Right now we’re observing a certain shortage, but it’s not critical,” he claimed. Putin said officials now face the main task now of increasing Russian anti-aircraft defence capacity and to ensure fuel supplies, particularly to Crimea. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 07:46Putin agrees no formal agreement came out of Alaska talks Vladimir Putin appeared to agree with comments last week by US secretary of state Marco Rubio that no formal agreement had been reached at US-Russia talks in Alaska last year, although he said American peace proposals had been discussed. “Nobody signed anything, but we talked about certain possibilities for ending the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said. Russia has been insisting in recent days that it wants to stick to the terms of a peace deal discussed between Trump and Putin in Anchorage in August last year. The US side, he said, had asked for compromises which he said were contained in proposals put forward by the Americans in the talks. In his comments, Putin also suggested that Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, with whom he held two days of talks this week, could assist with peace talks. US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose on the podium on the tarmac after they arrived to attend a meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska (Sputnik) Arpan Rai29 June 2026 07:25What Putin told his United party congress Vladimir Putin gave a rare acknowledgement of the impacts of Ukraine's medium- and long-range drone campaign, as he spoke about several issues plaguing his invasion of Ukraine. Here’s what he said: On Russia facing problems in war with Ukraine: “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.“We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities.” On Ukraine’s drone campaign: "The first task is to quickly and significantly ramp up production of those air defence systems that are most needed." "All the strikes, wherever they hit our infrastructure, absolutely do not affect the situation on the front, on the line of combat contact," he said. On peace talks with Ukraine: Putin said Russia was expecting a resumption of US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war and a new visit to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner once the "hot phase" of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran was resolved. On continuing attacks on the war's frontline: Vladimir Putin said he was rejecting what he said was a new proposal by Kyiv to rein in hostilities in the conflict and Russia would press ahead with its battlefield aim of fully capturing four Ukrainian regions. He said Moscow saw it as a means to relieve pressure on Kyiv's forces along the two sides' 1,250km (775mile) front line and would not be distracted by it. “It is clear why this proposal is being made, because our counter-strikes deep into Ukrainian territory are much stronger, have greater impact and are, frankly, more destructive," Putin claimed. “Given their catastrophic shortage of personnel, the Ukrainian Armed Forces apparently believe this could be their salvation. But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans,” he claimed. On fuel supply shortages amid attacks on oil refineries: Putin, addressing a meeting of senior officials on fuel supply and distribution, said Russia had to minimise the effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil installations linked to the shortages. He called for measures to ensure supplies for the farm sector and said a ban on diesel exports was under consideration. "You are well aware that problems for drivers and for businesses persist," Putin told the meeting, according to accounts published by Russian news agencies. "Unfortunately, there are still queues at gas stations too." He added: "We have to reduce to a minimum the impact of terrorist attacks on our civilian targets and infrastructure." Putin said gasoline reserves were being used and now stood at 1.7 million metric tons and that July production levels should exceed those recorded in June. He said a ban on diesel exports, under discussion for some time, was being considered. "The need to introduce a complete ban on the export of diesel fuel is being considered," he told participants. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 07:10German foreign minister and US counterpart to discuss new burden-sharing arrangement in Nato German foreign minister Johann Wadephul and his US counterpart Marco Rubio will discuss a new burden-sharing arrangement within Nato at a meeting in Washington this week, Wadephul said this morning. Wadephul and Rubio will discuss "how we can achieve a new burden-sharing arrangement within the alliance and secure stable, long-term support for Ukraine at next week's Nato summit in Ankara”. "Support that will make Moscow realise that it is finally time to end the killing in Ukraine and come to the negotiating table," Wadephul added in a statement. Foreign minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) gives a statement after the weekly federal government cabinet meeting in Berlin (Getty) Arpan Rai29 June 2026 06:47Biden accuses Trump of 'destroying Nato' and siding with Putin Joe Biden accused Donald Trump of “destroying Nato” and “choosing [Vladimir] Putin over American allies.” Speaking from a Democratic Party fundraising gala in Maryland on Saturday, the former US president took several jabs at Trump. He said: “It's not just his deliberate distortion and destruction of Nato and his choosing Putin over American allies or the fact that he's diminished our standing in the eyes of the world more than any president in history has,” Kyiv Independent reported. President Trump has heavily criticised Nato and threatened to pull out of the alliance over European members’ lack of support in the Iran war. Arpan Rai29 June 2026 06:16
