President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Vladimir Putin is facing blame from within his own “inner circle” over the damage Russia has suffered during Ukraine’s latest drone campaign.
The Ukrainian leader claimed that Kyiv’s long-range attacks inside Russia, combined with developments on the battlefield, have fuelled what he described as a “toxic” mood around the Kremlin, with some of Putin’s key allies indicating that the war should be brought to an end.
“The situation on the front, together with our long-range and mid-range strikes, is creating a new atmosphere around Putin. A very toxic atmosphere,” Zelensky said.
He added that Putin bears sole responsibility for launching the invasion and for allowing it to continue, saying he is also accountable for the mounting losses endured by Russians.
“His retinue understands this – they are signalling it to us and to our partners,” Zelensky continued.
He said Russian society was also increasingly feeling the consequences of the conflict, arguing that decisions are now needed to move toward peace.
Zelensky insisted Ukraine has been prepared for such a step for some time, saying Kyiv is doing everything possible to ensure the war ends “with dignity.”
His remarks came as he held discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on restarting negotiations with Russia, and signalled he is prepared to travel to Washington next week for talks with Donald Trump.
President Vladimir Putin is being blamed by his ‘inner circle’ for the devastation being wreaked upon Russia by Ukraine’s recent drone campaign, says Zelensky (pictured July 20 2026)
Ukrainian drones struck Russian online retailer Wildberries warehouses, the latest in a campaign of long-range strikes inside Russia
Putin’s forces are reported to be losing 7,000 troops a week, dead and maimed.
Zelensky’s claims on turmoil in the Kremlin came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and hardline Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today held a 35-minute face-to-face session in the Philippines.
Initial accounts of the meeting indicated Lavrov did not budge from the Kremlin’s implacable official stance.
The US is seeking to kickstart peace talks which, until now, Putin has resisted with a massive surrender of the Donbas region by Ukraine.
The rumours of unrest in his ‘inner circle’ will be the latest blow for the Russian despot, after Ukraine again hammered Russia’s energy sector overnight.
An oil refinery and a depot in Novosspasskoye, Ulyanovsk region, were hit and exploded in a deadly drone strike.
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Ukrainian drones also attacked a major Transneft pumping, storage and dispatch oil hub in Bashkortostan (Bashkiria), further disrupting Russian supplies which are in chaos.
Voronezh was rocked by intense overnight strikes leading to ‘serious consequences’.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 July 2026
Ukrainian soldiers operate a 2S22 Bohdana cannon at an undisclosed location on the Donetsk frontline, July 23, 2026. Although most offensive operations on the frontline are now carried out with drones, artillery remains essential in this war
Another hub of Wildberries online marketplace – the Russian Amazon – was targeted in Voronezh, with reports of its roof being damaged. Another Wildberries outlet in Kazan was also targeted overnight.
Ukraine has destroyed three major Wildberries complexes in the past five days, causing damage to the Russian economy.
Voronezh regional governor Alexander Gusev said: ‘Air defence forces spent the night repelling an enemy attack on civilian targets.
‘Unfortunately, there are casualties and serious consequences.’
A three-year-old child was killed and others were wounded.
Fresh attacks on power plants in Crimea have also left swathes of the peninsula suffering power cuts.
Meanwhile, there were intense battles over shipping – Ukraine hit at least two more Putin shadow fleet vessels overnight, bringing the total to 198 in 17 days in the Black and Azov seas.
Russia has claimed to have struck 28 ships supplying Ukraine in the Black Sea since July 11.
Ukraine claimed Russia is deliberately striking vessels carrying grain for export to third world countries.
It has demanded a US security council session, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha saying: ‘No country has the right to starve the world.’
Russia claims it is hitting military cargos.
Shipping giant Maersk has temporarily suspended operations in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk due to Russian shelling.
