Putin answered why the Russian air defenses did not protect the CPC oil pumping station

There were no Russian air defense systems to protect the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), because it is an international facility. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, answering journalists' questions during a visit to a drone manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg.

"There were and still are no air defense systems, Russian air defense systems at this facility [CPC]. It is clear why, because we assumed that this could not be an object for attack. Strictly speaking, this is not a Russian facility, it is an international energy infrastructure facility," the head of state said, quoted by TASS.

Earlier, Putin noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on the CPC is similar to "some kind of coordinated actions" with Europe. As the president said, he does not want to believe it.

"I think it's an accident. It's just that the Europeans [are] going their own way and not paying attention to what is happening. But formally, if you look at what is happening, it looks like some kind of coordination," the head of state added.

On February 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). CPC informed all shareholders of the international consortium, including representatives of companies from the United States and Europe, about the terrorist attack on a civilian facility by means of UAVs and its results.