Putin's 'inner circle' blames him for devastating Russian losses with Ukraine strikes creating 'toxic' Kremlin atmosphere, says Zelensky

By WILL STEWART and SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:08, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 18:10, 23 July 2026 President Vladimir Putin is being blamed by his 'inner circle' for the devastation being wreaked upon Russia by Ukraine's recent drone campaign, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader has further claimed that the long-range strikes inside Russia and battlefield gains have created a 'toxic' atmosphere in the Kremlin, with key allies even signalling it is time to end the war. '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,' he said. 'He alone is the reason this war began and hasn't ended. Putin alone is responsible for the losses Russians continue to suffer,' he continued. 'His retinue understands this - they are signalling it to us and to our partners. 'Russian society is beginning to feel it more and more as well. We need decisions to bring about peace.' Zelensky stressed: 'Ukraine has long been ready for this. We are now doing everything to ensure this war ends with dignity.' He spoke to US envoys with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about resuming negotiations with Russia and is ready to fly 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. 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.