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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Ukraine had opened a “Pandora’s box” by striking Russian civilian and economic targets, warning that Moscow would respond against what he called Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors.
Speaking in an interview with Vesti, Putin said Ukraine and its Western supporters had failed to gain an advantage over Russia and would not succeed in doing so.
He described attempts to defeat Russia within 40 days as “another adventure” by Kyiv and Western leaders, saying they had long sought to push Russia toward collapse.
Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks had caused casualties and economic damage in Russia but said they had not changed the situation on the battlefield.
Ukraine has intensified drone attacks this summer against Russian economic infrastructure, including oil refineries, warehouses and logistics facilities, saying the targets support Moscow’s war effort.
Russia, in turn, has increased attacks on Ukrainian defense-industry sites and economic infrastructure, including facilities linked to Black Sea grain exports.
“The Kyiv regime set out to damage our economy. What did it do? It opened this Pandora’s box itself,” Putin said. “Expect a response targeting your most sensitive economic sectors.”
He said Russia’s response to Ukrainian attacks on logistics facilities had been more precise and destructive and claimed Ukraine’s economy, including its agricultural sector, was “breathing its last.”
Putin also accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt Russian elections through attacks, saying Moscow would strengthen state institutions and protect the legitimacy of government.
“I am confident that this attempt at informational and psychological influence on Russian society is also doomed to failure,” he said.
Putin reiterated that Russia was prepared for negotiations with Ukraine, but only on the basis of what he called “realities on the ground.”
He said Moscow had received “exotic” proposals for negotiations through intermediaries but considered them unacceptable.
Putin also rejected concerns that Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and agricultural infrastructure could create global food shortages.
He said Russia had sufficient export capacity to replace Ukrainian supplies despite Ukrainian attacks on Russian grain 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,” Putin said.
Russia and Ukraine previously operated under a Türkiye-brokered agreement protecting Black Sea grain exports, but Moscow withdrew from the deal in 2023.
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