Britain intercepts Russian tanker attempting to breach English Channel as Keir Starmer describes move as 'blow' to Vladimir Putin

Close Putin ally and former President Dmitry Medvedev was spotted falling asleep as his leader made the stark admission

Vladimir Putin has admitted Russia is facing "problems" in its four-year-long invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian President addressed his nation's faltering war just as Ukraine struck oil refineries in the regions of Krasnodar and Yaroslavl, hundreds of miles from the border.

Veniamin Kondratiev, the Governor of Krasnodar, said one person had been killed in the strikes and another injured.

Mr Putin, delivering a rambling speech in Moscow, acknowledged the struggles the war has inflicted on Russia.

"Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia's borders," he told the congress of United Russia, his ruling party.

"We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges facing us today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and infrastructure facilities."

Despite the rare admission, the humbling moment was not enough to grab the attention of his ally Dmitry Medvedev.

Footage from the speech showed the former Russian President nodding off, with his eyes completely shut.

Earlier, Mr Putin acknowledged Russia was also staring down the barrel of fuel shortages thanks to his "special military operation".

He told Russian news agencies: "You are well aware that problems for drivers and for businesses persist.

"Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations too."

He added: "We have to reduce to a minimum the impact of terrorist attacks on our civilian targets and infrastructure".

A task force on fuel supplies was working around the clock and a complete ban on the export of diesel fuel was being considered, he added.

On Sunday, Russian strikes killed four civilians in Ukraine, the latest in a series of long-range strikes.

Russian strikes killed two people in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, while another two died from Russian attacks in the town of Zmiiv.

Back in Russia, the Krasnodar region suffered damage to its power line and gas pipe - with Russia's Ministry of Defence revealing it intercepted 213 drones during the latest round of Ukrainian strikes.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, said: "We continue ⁠our operations that weaken Russia's ability to wage this war. The Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit – about 300km (190 miles) from the frontline.

"We also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700km (430 miles) from our border."

"We will continue to respond to Russian terror. I thank our warriors for these results. I am grateful to everyone who helps us."

Crimea - annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 - declared an "emegency situation" amid power cuts and fuel shortages.

Kremlin-linked authorities have urged those living in the peninsula to limit their energy usage.

In the face of the faltering campaign in Ukraine, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has taken to making fresh claims about the West.

Western countries are not yet ready to engage in open aggression against Russia and are fighting through their satellites, bristled Alexander Pastukhov, an "expert" with the spy body.

"Let's just say they're not yet in a position to mount an open aggression against us. They're trying to do it through proxy wars."

Mr Pastukhov went on to suggest Russia could attack the West if it wanted to - but, of course, "Westerners mistakenly perceive our restraint as weakness".