Putin says Ukraine "started" strikes on energy and data infrastructure and should have considered the consequences

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Ukraine was responsible for starting attacks on Russian energy and digital infrastructure and argued that Moscow was now responding.

"They made the first move. We started responding," Putin said. "Now they're squealing in the same way about energy facilities, too, and about other sites, including data centers and so on."

He said Ukraine "shouldn't have started it" and should have considered the consequences before launching such attacks.

Putin also said recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries had caused limited damage, while accusing Kyiv of appealing to its Western backers whenever Russia retaliates.

His remarks came after Ukraine intensified attacks on Russian refineries and data centers, including facilities linked to Yandex and Sberbank. Russia has also struck Ukrainian energy and digital infrastructure in recent weeks.

The comments follow the collapse of a brief U.S.-backed energy ceasefire, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing the other of violating or abandoning the arrangement.