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Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Sunday to ensure Russia's security and overcome challenges as Ukraine stepped up retaliatory strikes inside Russia amid Moscow's four-year war.
Speaking at the United Russia party congress, Putin said Russia was aware of the problems it faced and was responding to them.
"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," he added.
Kyiv calls the attacks fair retribution for Russia's near-daily barrages on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since its February 2022 offensive.
Putin claimed that the Ukrainian administration was retreating along the entire line of contact and was therefore turning to what he called terrorist acts.
"The Kyiv regime is retreating along the entire line of contact and is therefore clearly resorting to terrorist acts," Putin said.
"What else can one call deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and the open use of people to carry out sabotage and terrorist acts in our country?" he added.
Putin said Russia was going through a difficult period but argued that the experience had taught the country many lessons.
"We are going through a difficult stage, but this process has taught us a lot and has allowed us to feel the essence of the concept of a 'citizen of Russia,'" he said.
Putin's speech came hours after a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person in Russia's southern Krasnodar region and sparked a fire at a refinery, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
Kyiv claimed the strike, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying it was part of "operations that weaken Russia's ability to wage this war."
"The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit—about 300 kilometers from the frontline. We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 kilometers from our border," Zelenskyy said on X on Sunday.
Last week, another Ukrainian attack caused a major fire at a refinery southeast of Moscow, covering the capital's suburbs with plumes of thick black smoke.
Russian-annexed Crimea on Friday declared an "emergency situation" in an effort to ease the fallout from increasing Ukrainian aerial attacks on the peninsula.
The territory is facing fuel shortages and power cuts caused by Ukrainian attacks on logistics chains and oil facilities across Crimea, other Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, and southern Russia.
Russia seized and annexed Crimea in 2014, though the vast majority of countries, including many of Moscow's allies, do not recognize the move.
Putin also said Russia was facing intense pressure from what he called "Western elites."
He accused the West of trying to stir up the political situation inside Russia but said those efforts had failed.
"They are trying to create internal unrest, but they are failing. They cannot inflict a strategic defeat on us, they cannot defeat us on the battlefield," Putin said.
His remarks came as Ukraine's attacks on targets inside Russia have increased during the war.
Putin said the protection of traditional values would be among the themes of the next election campaign.
"Relying on traditional values is a solid ideological foundation that unites Russian society," he said.
He also said the United Russia party is in direct contact with units in the Russian army, defense industry facilities, and volunteer movements.
Putin said conditions would be created for those who served in the war to continue serving the country in politics, the economy, public administration, and local government.
Putin said Russia had revised some plans in line with current conditions.
"Of course, based on the current situation, we are reviewing some of our plans," he said.
"At the same time, all strategically important development programs will be fully implemented," he added.
Putin said Russia would overcome the challenges facing it and ensure the security of the country and its citizens.
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