For days, long queues have formed at petrol stations, with rationing introduced, as Ukraine\u2019s long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries continued to prove a success.<\/p>\n
Hardliners called for the Kremlin to respond to the latest assault with brutal force to deter any future cross-border attacks.<\/p>\n
Putin did not respond personally to the attacks as he hosted south Asian leaders for a summit in the Russian city of Kazan.<\/p>\n
But Sergey Lavrov, his veteran foreign minister, said: \u201cIt is no coincidence that the president announced some time ago, after another stunt by the Kyiv terrorists, that we would now carry out massive group strikes on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis task has been set by the supreme commander-in-chief, and our armed forces are fulfilling it and will continue to fulfil it.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is uncertain how Russia will respond, but its forces have frequently bombarded civilian targets across Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles and drones since the beginning of the war.<\/p>\n
Mr Zelensky said the latest Ukrainian strikes were a \u201cfully justified response\u201d to previous Russian attacks, including one against an ancient cathedral in Kyiv<\/a>. \u201cIf Ukraine burns, so will Moscow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n