“We must be prepared for anything”: Putin responded to attacks on Russian oil refineries

Vladimir Putin said Russia must be “ready for anything” amid ongoing Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and fuel shortages in certain regions.

The phrase was voiced on September 3 in Vladivostok at a plenary session Eastern Economic Forum.

The context of the statement is important. Putin was responding not to a question about mobilizing the population or preparing to expand the war, but to a question about whether Russians should get used to periodic fuel shortages after drone strikes on oil refining infrastructure.

“We must be prepared for anything. And only our readiness for anything will give an understanding to everyone who wants to harm us that it is better not to do this.”

Thus, to interpret this phrase as a direct warning to the population about imminent large-scale escalation would be too broad. In the immediate context, it was primarily about the stability of the Russian energy infrastructure and readiness for new attacks.

Refinery strikes are becoming a serious problem

Ukraine has significantly stepped up its attacks on the Russian oil refining industry in recent months.

The Athens News recently reported in detail that oil refining in Russia has dropped to its lowest levels in many yearsand in some regions there were shortages of gasoline.

Previously we also wrote about Putin’s promise to repeatedly strengthen the response to Ukrainian strikes.

At the WEF, the Russian president said that damaged capacities are gradually being restored.

According to him, it remains to restore approximately 10% of affected capacitiesand repair work is proceeding at an accelerated pace.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also previously reported that some of the oil refining capacities are being repaired, and oil companies, together with law enforcement agencies, are strengthening the protection of enterprises.

Tens of billions are being spent to protect oil refineries

Putin said that the costs of Russian companies for the physical and technical protection of oil refineries are already being measured tens of billions of rubles.

According to him, previously, owners of civilian energy facilities practically did not assume that enterprises would regularly become the target of military strikes. Now the security system has to be rebuilt.

“If tragedies happen, we will find a way to respond”

Much tougher rhetoric was heard in connection with Vladimir Zelensky’s statements about the safety of Russian airspace.

The President of Ukraine has warned international airlines that long-range Ukrainian drones are making flights over Russia increasingly risky.

Putin called such statements “an application for state terrorism”.

“If, God forbid, such tragedies happen, we will find a way to respond. Let no one doubt.”

This formulation was made on September 1 after the SCO summit. At the WEF, Putin returned to the topic and said that threats to civil aviation further complicate the prospects for peace negotiations.

Following Kyiv’s statements, Russian authorities also held consultations with foreign airlines on flight safety issues.

At the same time, Putin continues to talk about the possibility of negotiations

There was another line in the speech at the WEF that cannot be ignored.

Putin stated that the possibility of a peace agreement with Ukraine remainsalthough there is no concrete breakthrough in the negotiations yet.

Thus, Moscow is simultaneously sending two signals: readiness to continue the war and respond to blows – and maintaining the possibility of negotiations on terms acceptable to Russia.

Video performances

The full official recording of the plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum was published on the Kremlin website:

Speech by Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forum on September 3, 2026

Additional video of Putin’s statements on threats to civil aviation:

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