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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Ukraine’s increasing drone strikes on Russia aimed to “sow confusion” and damage the country’s economy.

Ukraine has hit ever deeper into Russia in recent months, regularly hitting oil refineries and export hubs.

“Their goal is to create a split in Russian society, sow confusion and inflict economic damage,” Putin told Russian soldiers in a Kremlin meeting.

“But they will not succeed,” he added.

The comments came hours after Kyiv said it hit a major oil refinery over 1,000 kilometers (around 620 miles) from the frontline.

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Putin admitted that Ukrainian strikes had caused “economic damage” but claimed that “everything is quickly restored.”

It has been difficult to assess just how damaging the strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have been.

Ukraine has called the strikes fair retaliation for Russia’s daily barrage of drones and missiles sent to Ukrainian towns and cities.
Putin said Moscow must improve its air defenses, in the second such call this month.

The Russian leader compared the West to 19th century French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and 20th century German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler - who both tried to take Russian territory - and praised Russian assault groups for “coming in, taking control and securing territory for Russia.”

Putin recently rejected the prospect of face-to-face talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end more than four years of war.

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