“All the same”
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there is nothing fundamentally new about the arms being provided to Kiev, including the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems recently announced by the United States. He noted that similar systems built in the Soviet and Russian era, such as Grada, Smerch, and Hurricanes, were already in service with the Ukrainian armed forces. He underscored that the operational range of these systems depends on the missiles used, and claimed that the current missiles supplied by the United States would determine an effective range of about 45 to 70 kilometers, according to the type of missile. He recalled that the older Grad and Hurricane systems also had ranges in a similar bracket, 40 to 70 kilometers, arguing that nothing new has appeared in this regard.
Compensation for losses
Putin argued that the recent events do not hinge on trust or distrust in the Ukrainian regime. He claimed that at the outset of the military operation, Ukraine possessed roughly 515 multiple launch rocket systems, of which Russia had destroyed about 380. He asserted that some were restored or retrieved from military stocks, estimating that Ukraine currently has around 360 in stock. He suggested that the continuation of arms supplies from the United States and other nations is connected to offsetting the losses of such equipment, describing it as a familiar pattern with no fundamental change. The president also noted that Ukraine has submitted requests for additional artillery systems, which he interpreted as an attempt to recover those damaged or destroyed during the conflict.
In addition, Putin commented on Ukraine’s interest in artillery supplies, implying that this would reflect efforts to replenish losses sustained in the fighting. He framed these requests within the broader context of sustaining Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities rather than signaling a strategic shift in the conflict’s trajectory.
drones
The Russian leader also addressed Ukraine’s demand for unmanned aerial vehicles. He stated that Kiev seeks both reconnaissance drones and unmanned attack systems. According to Putin, Ukrainian forces have deployed such drones from the outset of the operation. He noted that unmanned attack drones are most effective in areas where air defense coverage is limited or not operational. He claimed that Russia possesses air defense systems such as Beech, Tor, and Shell that perform well in practice, while acknowledging that many air defenses have sustained damage. He described Ukraine as using reconnaissance drones extensively, with most of these UAVs sourced from abroad in the early period of the conflict.
Regarding strategic reconnaissance UAVs, Putin described a third type as capable of flying at altitudes around 8 to 11 kilometers. He said these assets were in use even before the operation and continued to be deployed, including over the Black Sea and Ukrainian territory. He questioned the rationale for transferring such systems to Ukraine, suggesting that there might be other purposes behind such moves and expressing that the matter did not alter the overall situation.
Prolongation of the armed conflict
Putin suggested that the push for additional arms deliveries might be aimed at prolonging the conflict rather than achieving a rapid resolution. A journalist pressed him on the hypothetical scenario in which the United States would continue delivering missiles to Ukraine and the potential impact on Russian territory. Putin warned that if these missiles were procured, appropriate conclusions would be drawn, and the Russian side would respond using available means of destruction against targets that had not yet been struck by Russia. He emphasized that the decision-making centers for such actions are not necessarily located within Kyiv, describing them as a significant risk that should be considered.
Earlier statements from Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, were cited in which he indicated that if Ukraine uses delivered missile systems against Russian facilities, Moscow would take actions aimed at defeating those decision-making centers. The remarks underscored the perception that some targets lie beyond Ukrainian borders, highlighting the complexity of the regional security dynamics. Separately, the United States announced an agreement to supply HIMARS systems to Kiev with the condition that they would not be used to attack Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to honor this commitment, setting a boundary for the deployment of the new systems.
The overall discussion reflects ongoing tensions around arms deliveries, strategic stability, and the wider implications for regional security in Europe. It also points to the contested interpretations of how foreign support may influence both the intensity and duration of the conflict, as well as the broader geopolitical calculus involved in international military assistance.