Russian President Vladimir Putin said that continued Ukrainian attacks have caused some fuel shortages in Russia, though he described the situation as not yet serious. In an interview released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin explained that after four years of war, Ukrainian strikes have affected Russia’s energy infrastructure.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have regularly targeted Ukrainian cities, civilians, and energy facilities. In response, Ukraine has launched counterattacks on oil refineries and other military sites inside Russia. Putin stated that Russia’s main task now is to strengthen its air defense systems, particularly to secure energy supplies to Crimea.

Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea declared a state of emergency on Friday due to fuel shortages and power outages, blaming Ukrainian attacks on logistics chains and oil installations. Putin also expressed hope that once the Middle East situation stabilizes, a U.S. delegation might visit Moscow to discuss ending the war.