Putin Orders Russian Military to Prepare Massive Strikes on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 1, 2026, that the Russian military has been given orders to intensify attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The directive was discussed during a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Putin stated that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are to prepare and execute massive strikes against Ukraine's energy facilities, warning that any retaliation from Ukraine will provoke a strong response.

This order follows the announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry on August 30, 2026, that troops were already preparing for large-scale strikes against Ukraine's energy sector. In the same press conference, Putin also reported on the capture of 270 square kilometers of Ukraine's Donetsk region and the encirclement of a significant Ukrainian military force.

He further stated that Russian forces are advancing towards the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. This threat of strikes is not a new development; in July 2026, Putin had already called for continuous large-scale strikes. The previous week, he had warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure had opened "Pandora's box," and that Moscow would target Ukraine's most sensitive economic sectors.

The announcement of the new military directive was widely reported by international news agencies and major media outlets covering the ongoing conflict.