Putin warns of strikes on Ukraine’s sensitive economic sectors

Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Kyiv had opened “Pandora’s box” through strikes on Russian economic targets and warned that Moscow would respond by targeting Ukraine’s “most sensitive economic sectors”.

Ukraine has escalated drone attacks this summer on Russian economic infrastructure, including oil refineries and online retailers’ warehouses, which it says support Russia’s war effort.

Economic infrastructure strikes

Russia has responded with strikes on Ukrainian economic infrastructure, including grain exports through the Black Sea.

“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 published on Saturday by a Russian state television journalist.

Grain exports

Putin said attacks that have jeopardised Ukraine’s agricultural exports would not cause global food shortages because Russia would be able to replace Ukrainian exports, despite Kyiv targeting Russian grain export infrastructure.

“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,” he said.

Russia and Ukraine had previously adhered to a Turkish-brokered agreement to protect grain exports in the Black Sea, but Russia withdrew from the deal in 2023.

Peace talks

Putin also restated Moscow’s position that it is open to peace talks, but only on the basis of what he described as “realities on the ground”, rather than what he called “exotic” proposals made by Ukraine through intermediaries.