Russian President Vladimir Putin told an economic forum in Vladivostok on September 5, 2025, that any Western military forces deployed to Ukraine during ongoing operations would be treated as “legitimate targets for destruction.” The warning came as 26 countries pledged postwar force commitments to support Ukraine and Kyiv reported a drone strike on Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery.
Key Takeaways
- Putin said foreign forces in Ukraine would be viewed as a direct threat and legitimate targets.
- Twenty-six countries pledged to deploy forces as part of postwar security guarantees.
- Ukraine’s drone commander reported an attack on the Ryazan oil refinery; Governor Pavel Malkov said eight drones were shot down.
- Reuters estimates Ukrainian strikes have disabled about 17% of Russia’s oil processing capacity.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov framed NATO expansion and foreign deployments as a national-security threat to Russia.
Verified Facts
At an economic forum in Vladivostok on 5 September 2025, President Vladimir Putin stated that “if some troops appear there, especially now, during military operations, we proceed from the fact that these will be legitimate targets for destruction.” He framed the presence of Western forces in Ukraine as a direct threat to Russian security.
Separately, a group of countries described as a “coalition of the willing” has advanced proposals for post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine. Reports on 5 September say 35 countries have joined the broader coalition, with 26 indicating readiness to commit forces in a post-ceasefire security framework.
Ukraine’s drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said on Telegram that the Ryazan oil refinery — about 180 km southeast of Moscow — and an oil depot in occupied Luhansk were targeted in an overnight operation. Ryazan regional governor Pavel Malkov said Russia’s air defenses shot down eight drones and that debris fell on an industrial site.
Independent calculations cited by international news agencies put the cumulative effect of recent Ukrainian strikes at roughly 17% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity, following attacks on facilities operated by companies including Lukoil and Rosneft in several regions.
Context & Impact
Putin’s statement escalates rhetoric around any possible deployment of Western forces to Ukrainian territory. Moscow has long cited NATO’s eastward expansion as a primary security concern and uses such developments to justify countermeasures.
Security guarantees that include international forces on land, sea and air are aimed at deterring future aggression and reassuring Ukraine and its neighbors. However, Moscow portrays those guarantees as an unacceptable red line that could raise the risk of direct confrontation.
Attacks on energy infrastructure, such as the reported strike on Ryazan, serve multiple purposes: degrading Russian military logistics, pressuring the economy, and signaling capability to strike deep inside Russian territory. They also raise risks of escalation and civilian harm if strikes hit populated or industrial areas.
- Potential diplomatic effects: harder negotiations, increased sanctions leverage, and intensified security planning in Europe.
- Military risks: higher probability of miscalculation if foreign troops are deployed near contested zones.
Official Statements
“If some troops appear there … these will be legitimate targets for destruction,”
Vladimir Putin, Russian President (Vladivostok forum, 05 Sept 2025)
“NATO’s attempt to find a way to Ukraine presents a threat to our country,”
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson (comments reported by TASS)
Unconfirmed
- Full extent of damage at the Ryazan refinery and precise operational impact remain unverified by independent inspectors.
- The exact composition, timing and legal framework for the proposed postwar deployments by the 26 countries are not yet finalized.
- Attribution of some earlier electronic interference incidents or jamming to specific actors or systems is still under investigation.
Bottom Line
Putin’s warning raises the stakes over any future deployment of Western forces to Ukraine and underlines Moscow’s position that such moves would cross a red line. At the same time, Kyiv’s reported strikes on Russian energy infrastructure highlight the ongoing kinetic pressure that continues to shape bargaining positions. The coming weeks will test whether security guarantees can be designed to deter further aggression without provoking direct confrontation.