Putin vows expanded strikes on Ukrainian economic sectors

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to broaden missile and aerial strikes against Ukrainian economic sectors, asserting that Kyiv had “opened Pandora’s box” by targeting economic and civilian infrastructure inside Russia.

The rationale for escalation

In an interview with the Russian state broadcaster Vesti, Putin stated that Ukrainian attacks have failed to produce any breakthrough in the conflict and have not conferred a military advantage on Kyiv or its allies.

He described Russia’s response to what he termed Ukrainian escalation as intensified strikes against Ukrainian defense industry facilities and sensitive economic sectors—including targets in Kyiv itself.

Comparative impact of strikes

Putin characterized Russian strikes as “more destructive” than those carried out by Ukrainian forces inside Russia, adding that they disrupt the transportation of equipment and ammunition and impair the operational capacity of Ukrainian military installations.

Conditions for peace talks

On negotiations, Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to engage in peace dialogue with Ukraine, but conditioned such talks on alignment with “the realities on the ground”—a reference to Ukrainian territories currently under Russian military control.