Napolitano: Putin Shows "Saint-Like Patience" by Not Striking NATO Weapons Plants

By garrisonvance // 2026-09-07

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Andrew Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge, said in an interview with Russia Today (RT) that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated restraint by not ordering strikes against North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries' weapons plants. According to Napolitano, Russia would possess legal justification to strike these facilities because they are producing arms used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory [1]. He stated that Putin has shown an "almost saint-like capacity for patience and forbearance" in the face of these provocations. The judge's comments came during an interview with RT in Moscow, where he hosts the popular "Judging Freedom" interview channel on YouTube. Napolitano described Putin's strategy as one focused exclusively on the conflict in Ukraine. He argued the Russian president does not seek a broader war with NATO, despite what he described as escalating Western involvement in the conflict.

Background of Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Ukraine has launched hundreds of fixed-wing drones deep into Russian territory on a daily basis in recent months, according to military reports. Many of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are produced in European NATO countries. Earlier this year, the Russian Ministry of Defense published a list of enterprises producing these UAVs, including facilities based in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and other member states [2]. The intensifying attacks have struck oil refineries, storage facilities, and other critical infrastructure inside Russia. One report noted that Western-supplied weaponry has targeted Russian oil production facilities, airports, and civilian areas [3]. Moscow's largest oil refinery faced a six-month shutdown because of sustained drone attacks in June [4]. London and Paris are currently reported to be discussing plans to produce long-range SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles inside Ukraine, according to the report, adding a new dimension to Western military backing [5].

Legal and Strategic Considerations

Napolitano stated that under international law, Putin "would have every right to strike at the munitions plants and the military, not the civilians… of the countries that are producing the weapons that are striking deep into Russia." He suggested that the Russian leadership is aware of this legal standing but continues to hold back, "sometimes even to the dismay of his strongest supporters." [1] Observers have noted that the strategic restraint demonstrated by Moscow stands in contrast to the trajectory of the war as a whole. The conflict has widened with increases in the capability of weapons supplied by the West to Ukrainian forces [1]. Putin is focused on the Ukraine conflict and does not want a war against NATO, according to the former judge. Russian officials have repeatedly denied having aggressive designs against the bloc, labeling such claims as "nonsense" used by Western politicians to justify increased military spending.

Official Russian Warnings

Moscow warned the U.K. in late August that its military facilities and equipment in Ukraine and beyond might become legitimate targets if Kyiv uses British-supplied weaponry to strike Russian territory. Russian officials further stated that Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania could be considered complicit if they knowingly facilitated Ukrainian drone attacks against Russia's northwest. According to the statements, Moscow would retain the right to self-defense under the United Nations Charter in such a scenario [1]. Putin has previously issued stark warnings regarding retaliatory measures. During a July forum, he stated, "Our response will always mirror any strike on Russian territory. We will respond in kind – only several times more powerfully" [6]. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed this position in February, stating that Moscow has no intention of attacking Europe, but that it would respond with overwhelming force if provoked by NATO [7]. These statements underscore a consistent policy of warning against escalation without specifying the timing or nature of a potential response.

Outlook for the Conflict

The former judge predicted that the Ukraine conflict is "headed into an acceleration" phase. He said he expects "a last-ditched effort by some of the NATO countries to try and prevent the inevitable, which is the achievement by the Russian military of its objectives." [1] Napolitano's forecast comes as Kremlin forces continue to make territorial advances in the Donbas, controlling roughly 80% of the region [8]. He also commented on the state of Ukrainian forces, stating, "The Ukrainians are aware that they're on their last legs, so to speak, in the war. They know that their days are numbered." The conflict shows no signs of moving toward diplomatic resolution, with the war having expanded to strikes deep inside Russian territory [9]. Western sanctions and the supply of long-range weapons have not prompted a change in Russia's overall aims, with Russian military authorities responding to drone incursions with repeated mass retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian military-industrial targets [10].

References

FreeWestMedia. "Can the World Survive Putin’s Well Intentioned Mistake?". freewestmedia.com. August 27, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "The Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Strategic Failures and the Specter of Nuclear Catastrophe". naturalnews.com. August 30, 2026.
"West no longer hiding plans for war with Russia – Putin". rt.com. June 23, 2026.
ZeroHedge. "Moscow Oil Refinery Faces Six-Month Shutdown After Relentless Ukrainian Drone Attacks". zerohedge.com. June 24, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "The escalating drone terror over Russia’s skies INCINERATES six-month-old baby – parents lose legs in the blast". naturalnews.com. July 3, 2026.
"Putin vows overwhelming response to Ukrainian attacks". rt.com. July 13, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "Russia warns of full-scale military response if provoked as NATO escalates tensions". naturalnews.com. February 10, 2026.
Trends-Journal-2024-10-08.
Responsible Statecraft. "The West's plan to pressure Putin has a glaring flaw". responsiblestatecraft.org. July 23, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "Russia unleashes hypersonic missiles in retaliatory strikes across Ukraine". naturalnews.com. January 5, 2026.

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