Putin says Russia will strengthen air defense after Ukraine drone strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to representatives of international news agencies during the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
AP/Dmitri Lovetsky
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (4) that Russia will strengthen its air defense systems to counter recent drone attacks from Ukraine, which have reached deep areas of Russian territory.
Responding to a question from the Associated Press during a meeting with heads of international news agencies, Putin acknowledged the damage caused by the attacks Ukrainians.
"Unfortunately, some of them manage to get through," the president said of the drones that hit his hometown of St. Petersburg. "Russia has an air defense system. We need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that."
The interview took place on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual event used by Putin to attract investment. Hours before the opening of the forum, on Wednesday (3), a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire in an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base.
Putin also stated that Russia remains open to an agreement on the war in Ukraine, as long as it follows the understandings reached during his meeting with United States President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska. According to him, Ukraine would need to accept these terms for an agreement to be reached.
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Putin rules out European Union mediation
The Russian president rejected the idea that European Union countries could act as mediators in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, claiming that they are not neutral parties.
"Mediation presupposes neutrality. Where is the neutrality here?", he asked.
Putin added that any mediators need to have the trust of both sides.
"How can Russia trust people who spent years defending the need to impose a strategic defeat on the country?", he stated.
Commenting on the use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, Putin said that the weapon was launched against targets that allowed it to test its capacity and precision before being used against targets close to inhabited areas.
"We attacked a region where it was convenient to observe the results", he declared. "This was important in deciding on the large-scale use of Oreshnik against defined targets, including in populated areas."
The president also reinforced his objective of controlling the entire Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine. According to him, around 15% of the region's territory remains under Ukrainian control.
Putin also stated that the "patriotism and determination of the Russian people" will guarantee the achievement of the objectives set by Moscow in the war.
"Russian troops are advancing along the entire front line," he said.
A column of black smoke is seen over the port of Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, following a drone attack Ukrainian.
AP
Drone attacks affect forum in St. Petersburg
The drone attack that took place on Wednesday hit the Kronstadt naval base and a nearby oil terminal, causing a large column of black smoke over Russia's second largest city.
The episode represented yet another embarrassment for the Kremlin's efforts to minimize the impacts of the war, which began four years ago, and present it as a conflict far from Russians' daily lives.
The attack it also highlighted Ukraine's growing ability to strike targets deep within Russian territory and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's cities.
Dozens of flights were delayed or diverted at St. Petersburg airport. Authorities also temporarily halted mobile internet service in an attempt to hinder further attacks.
Putin had already reduced the scale of the traditional Victory Day parade, held on May 9, due to fears of drone attacks. Days later, a large-scale air offensive on the outskirts of Moscow killed three people and exposed weaknesses in the protection of the capital.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian forces are increasing military pressure on Ukraine to prevent further attacks of this type.
On Tuesday (2), Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles against Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, in attacks that left people dead.

Source: G1