Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Retailer Wildberries Warehouses Repeatedly; Putin Accuses West of Economic

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting with outgoing members of the eighth State Duma at the Kremlin, said that enemies cannot defeat Russia on the battlefield and have therefore shifted to open methods of terrorism. Putin stated that Western countries are trying to destabilize Russia through illegal restrictions, containment, and pressure, and are attempting to stifle Russia's economy, financial system, and banking sector. He said the Russian people have responded to these challenges with internal unity.

This month, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly attacked warehouses and logistics centers of Russian online retailer Wildberries, including facilities near Saint Petersburg. The range of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes has expanded beyond oil and defense industry targets; last weekend, a drone attack on a resort in the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 12 civilians. Russia has described this as a terrorist attack. At the same time, Russian missile and drone strikes on residential areas in Kyiv have become increasingly frequent, with the Ukrainian government also accusing Russia of committing acts of terrorism.