Putin says Ukraine refinery strikes cost Russia about 1% of GDP

October 1, 2026 at 09:55 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries have cost Russia about 1 percent of GDP. He made the statement at the Valdai Discussion Club plenary session. The assessment comes as economist Igor Yushkov said Kyiv will not stop targeting Russian refineries.

Key Facts

Putin said Russia lost about 1 percent of GDP due to Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries.
Putin spoke at the Valdai Discussion Club plenary session, broadcast on Rutube.
Economist Igor Yushkov said President Zelensky will not stop striking Russian refineries.
Yushkov described the refinery attacks as largely a Ukrainian-European project.
The New York Times reported that Trump in 2025 tacitly supported strikes on Russian refineries as leverage against Moscow.

Putin's Assessment

Putin said Russia lost about 1 percent of GDP due to Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries. He made the statement at the Valdai Discussion Club plenary session, broadcast on Rutube. The president did not provide a timeframe for the losses.

Refinery Strikes and Diesel Exports

Economist Igor Yushkov said President Zelensky will not stop striking Russian refineries. Yushkov described the attacks as largely a Ukrainian-European project, noting Kyiv remains heavily dependent on Europe. Russia is one of the world's largest diesel exporters, and Ukrainian strikes damage refineries, leading Moscow to ban diesel exports and causing a global market deficit. Yushkov added that the Middle East conflict also affects the deficit.

Reported US Support

The New York Times reported that Trump in 2025 tacitly supported strikes on Russian refineries. The White House chief viewed the attacks as a tool to pressure Moscow. The plan focused exclusively on refineries, not oil storage facilities, and the strikes gave Trump leverage.