Putin said Russia’s difficulties in shipping its own goods would not result in shortages on global markets, arguing that Moscow could compensate for disruptions to Ukrainian agricultural exports. Putin said on Saturday that Russia would respond to Ukraine’s strikes, which have increasingly targeted economic infrastructure including oil refineries and warehouses belonging to online retailers.
“The Kyiv regime set out to damage our economy. What did it do?
It opened this Pandora’s box itself. Well then, expect a response targeting your most sensitive economic sectors," Putin said in comments to a Russian state television journalist.
The warning comes as Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s economic infrastructure. Russian strikes have targeted Ukrainian economic assets, including facilities linked to grain exports through the Black Sea, while Ukraine has used drones to hit Russian energy and other commercial infrastructure.
Putin said Russia’s response to disruptions affecting its own exports would not lead to shortages on global markets. “We do face challenges regarding the shipment of our goods, but we will resolve these issues.
Consequently, there will be no shortage on the global market," Putin said. The warning comes as the two countries continue to strike each other’s economic and civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian drones hit an industrial facility and an Ozon warehouse in Russia’s Samara region on Saturday. Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed at least 14 people at a shopping centre in Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih.
Ukrainian drones strike Samara industrial facility, Ozon warehouseUkrainian drones struck an industrial facility and a warehouse belonging to Ozon, Russia’s second-largest online retailer, in the Samara region overnight, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev. Several people were wounded, Fedorishchev said in a post on Telegram, although he did not identify the industrial facility that was hit.
Samara is home to several oil refineries that have repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian drones. Ozon said its logistics centre in the town of Chapayevsk had suspended operations following the strike, which it said caused injuries.
The attack marked the first reported strike on Ozon, after weeks of Ukrainian attacks targeting its larger rival Wildberries. Kyiv has portrayed such strikes as part of a wider campaign against economic infrastructure supporting Russia’s military effort.
