Russian President Vladimir Putin, answering questions from journalists following the SCO summit in Bishkek, commented on reports of possible mobilization in the Russian Federation after the elections in September. He called information about this in Western and Ukrainian media an “information attack” on Russia and emphasized that all such reports are “bullshit.”
Continuing the theme of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Putin said that the Russian Armed Forces were given instructions to prepare and launch massive attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities in response to Kyiv’s attacks.
When asked by reporters about Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s statement about the “de facto” closure of Russian skies due to Kyiv drone strikes, Putin said he was not aware of this, but compared the rhetoric to “an application for state terrorism.”
Russia only has 10% of damaged oil refineries left to repair, the president added. At the same time, the Russian leader noted that negotiations on Ukraine are “to a certain extent frozen.”
At the same time, as Putin emphasized, Moscow is comfortable working with American negotiators on the Ukrainian track – White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Putin also touched upon relations with European countries. He mentioned official accusations of sabotage against Russia by Germany. Berlin blamed Moscow for the attack on the airport on August 4, when an explosive-laden drone with a failed detonator was found between Ukrainian cargo An-24s at Leipzig airport.
After the incident, Germany announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General from September 18, the summoning of the Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechaev and the termination of the contract for the “Russia House” in Berlin. Such diplomatic actions of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to the Russian President, “do not protect the interests of German citizens, but trade them.”
