CNN: Russia Hit by Multiple Attacks Across Regions, But Don't Expect Putin to Raise a White Flag
On June 30, CNN reported that for Putin, any settlement that cannot be framed as a decisive victory carries immense risk. To believe that Russia's current difficulties will force the Kremlin to yield is a profound mistake.
The report notes that over the past month, Ukraine has launched unprecedented drone strikes of historic scale—unparalleled in intensity. For the first time in more than four years of war, the brutal cost of conflict has become vividly real for ordinary Russian citizens. Yet this does not appear to have significantly affected President Putin’s strategic plans.
The core objective of Ukraine’s recent offensive is to exhaust Russia’s wartime economy and increase the economic and political costs of sustaining military operations for the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces have precisely targeted critical infrastructure: oil refineries, petroleum transfer terminals, naval vessels, and defense manufacturing facilities deep within Russia’s interior.
Media across Russia have captured long queues at gas stations, as fuel shortages continue to worsen. Even the Kremlin, which typically downplays major setbacks, can no longer ignore this stark reality. Last weekend, Putin convened an emergency meeting, openly acknowledging that domestic gasoline reserves have fallen to dangerously low levels.
Putin also stated that Russia is considering a complete ban on diesel exports. This comes just days after a senior Russian deputy prime minister told media outlets that there was no need for such an export restriction.
At the same time, Putin declared that Russia must “minimize as much as possible the damage caused by terrorist attacks on our civilian facilities and infrastructure.” This statement marks a sharp reversal from previous rhetoric—where Putin had consistently claimed that losses from Ukrainian drone strikes were negligible.
CNN points out that systematically destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was once one of Russia’s central military strategies. Now, Ukraine has returned the same tactics in full force, and Russian civilians are beginning to personally experience the consequences.
Western officials and experts therefore see a turning point emerging. They argue that momentum is shifting in Ukraine’s favor: Ukraine’s drone campaign has severed Russia’s fuel and military equipment supply chains, slowing down frontline Russian operations.
CNN emphasizes that Russia’s current hardships should not lead to the conclusion that the Kremlin will back down—at least not in the short term: “For decades, Putin has cultivated an image of unyielding leadership. This means surrendering, withdrawing from Ukraine, or making concessions on the issue would be nearly impossible for him, with enormous implementation difficulty.”
Most optimistic Western assessments indicate that since Russia launched its special military operation, total casualties on both sides have exceeded one million. Meanwhile, Russia still has not fully gained control over the four Ukrainian regions it claims sovereignty over.
CNN notes that any ceasefire proposal unable to be portrayed in Moscow as a decisive victory could trigger serious domestic political divisions. Therefore, despite the severe challenges posed by current fuel shortages, this does not mean Russia will choose to surrender.
As of June 29, fuel rationing measures have been implemented across approximately 53 federal regions within Russia; when including territories temporarily controlled by Russia in Ukraine, a total of 85 regions have experienced fuel supply disruptions, with gas stations running out of fuel and closing. Shortages of gasoline and diesel have led to suspended public transportation, stalled garbage collection, and halted agricultural machinery operations due to lack of fuel.
Meanwhile, retail gasoline prices in Russia rose by 3% in a single week—the largest weekly increase in at least two decades.
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Even under mounting civilian pressure, Russia’s leadership has comprehensive contingency mechanisms: releasing state fuel reserves, redirecting supplies from Central Asia and Belarus, cutting fuel exports to prioritize domestic needs, adjusting fuel production standards, and diverting air defense forces to protect rear-area facilities. These measures can temporarily alleviate the crisis, preventing Russia from being forced into immediate capitulation or cessation of hostilities.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869450400600202/
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