Putin, 73, Appears Flustered After Massive Moscow Drone Strike; Warns Of Retaliation While Keeping Talks "On The Table"

Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73, appeared to falter and lose his train of thought as he addressed reporters in St. Petersburg following what Moscow described as a major drone and missile assault on the capital. His hesitant delivery came as officials outlined plans to reassess negotiations with Kyiv after the strikes.

Russian authorities said the attack occurred on the night of Sept. 19–20, the main voting day of Russia’s recent parliamentary elections. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported it had shot down more than 1,900 drones alongside several guided aerial bombs, cruise missiles and rockets. Officials said at least three people were killed and that a major Moscow oil refinery sustained damage and was forced to halt output.

Ukraine did not confirm the total number of drones or projectiles launched. The Ukrainian General Staff later said the primary target was the Moscow Oil Refinery. President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram that Ukraine’s long-range strikes had a “very significant impact in the Moscow region last night,” and argued the facilities struck were generating “billions of dollars that sustain the war machine.”

"What has happened lately is also well known to everyone. On the night of Sept. 19 to 20, that is, on the main voting day, an attempt was made at a massive strike on Moscow,"

he said, at times hesitating and appearing troubled while recounting events.

Putin warned of consequences for Kyiv, framing the assault as part of a broader pattern.

"They are the ones who started it. Everywhere, on every front. Are these playthings, child's play?"

he asked reporters. He added:

"They should therefore be made to feel Russia's retaliatory strikes and understand that no provocative actions, no stirring up the situation to secure a result, will work. They're only making things worse for themselves."

At the same time, Putin emphasized that diplomatic options had not been closed.

"They are all on the table. It's all possible,"

he said, while adding that Moscow would need to consider carefully its response in light of recent events. He suggested that the effectiveness of Russian retaliatory actions had prompted renewed discussion of negotiations on several fronts.

Putin also expressed puzzlement about reported strikes on warehouses belonging to major Russian online retailers Ozon and Wildberries, asking what purpose those attacks served. He referenced a Reuters estimate to underscore their economic significance and said Moscow had begun responding to each such incident.

Context: Reporting on the number of drones and projectiles is contested: Russian defence figures and Ukrainian statements differ. Independent verification of the full scale of the attack, the exact targets and the damage is limited amid the fog of war.