Putin Downplays Ukrainian Strikes' Economic Damage as Russia Faces Fuel Crunch and Falling Ruble
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 22
Putin Downplays Ukrainian Strikes' Economic Damage as Russia Faces Fuel Crunch and Falling Ruble
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 22
Summary
Wednesday remarks from Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks had damaged Russian logistics facilities, including warehouses linked to e-commerce giant Wildberries, but said they would cause no critical long-term consequences.
Government-backed rebuilding is meant to blunt the impact, yet the strikes have already hit Russian consumers through fuel shortages, rising prices and pressure on the ruble as the war reaches deeper into daily economic life.
That strain comes with scant Russian gains on the Ukrainian front and growing domestic unease, including rumors of a new mobilization wave and warnings from a prominent economist of a looming social and technological decline.
Russia enters its traditional "Black August" period with political dissent largely crushed — opposition figure Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 11 years and his Yabloko party barred from parliamentary elections.