Putin Warns of Retaliation After Ukraine Targets Russian Economic Infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Ukraine had opened “Pandora’s box” by striking Russian economic targets, warning that Moscow would respond by hitting Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors.

Escalating Strikes on Economic Infrastructure

Ukraine has intensified drone strikes this summer against Russian economic infrastructure, including oil refineries and warehouses belonging to major online retailers, aiming to weaken assets it considers vital to Russia’s war effort. Russia has responded in kind, targeting Ukrainian economic infrastructure including grain export facilities along the Black Sea.

Putin Signals Broader Retaliation

Speaking to a Russian state television journalist, Putin said Kyiv had triggered the escalation itself by attacking Russia’s economy, adding that Moscow would now respond by targeting Ukraine’s most sensitive economic sectors.

He also addressed concerns about global food security, stating that Russia could compensate for disrupted Ukrainian grain exports and that the ongoing strikes would not lead to worldwide shortages, even as Ukraine continues targeting Russian grain export infrastructure in return.