Russia begins restricting petrol sales in Tatarstan, Moscow and St Petersburg
Fuel sales are being restricted at some petrol stations in the Russian republic of Tatarstan, the country's second-largest oil-producing region. Major filling station chains in Moscow and St Petersburg have also begun imposing limits on fuel purchases.
Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza, citing the Tatarstan government press service; Telegram channel of Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak
Details: The Tatarstan government said the restrictions have been introduced "to prevent artificial panic" and to "maintain a stable situation".
Tatarstan ranks second in Russia for oil production, behind the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and is among the country's top five refining regions. Several major oil refineries are located in the republic.
On 12 June, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported successful strikes on the TANECO and TAIF-NK oil refineries in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan.
It has also emerged that major fuel station chains in Moscow have begun limiting sales. At Tatneft stations, purchases are restricted to 20 litres of AI-92 and AI-95 petrol and 40 litres of diesel fuel, according to Ksenia Sobchak's Ostorozhno, Media ("Caution, Media").
Petrol station employees said the limits were introduced on 12 June. Similar restrictions were imposed the same day at Tatneft stations in St Petersburg.
At Rosneft stations in Moscow, customers are limited to 90 litres per vehicle tank or fuel container, while Lukoil stations sell no more than 100 litres of petrol or diesel per receipt.
On 2 June, ORTK, a filling station network operating mainly in Moscow Oblast and New Moscow, also introduced restrictions on vehicle fuel sales. Rosneft and Tatneft said there was no company-wide limit, although restrictions could be introduced at individual stations depending on circumstances. Lukoil said petrol sales were capped at 100 litres, while diesel sales were unrestricted.
Ukrainian forces have been striking Russian oil industry facilities almost daily. Residents of Belgorod and Ryazan oblasts, Krasnodar Krai and several other Russian regions have complained about shortages of petrol and diesel at filling stations. The most severe fuel shortages have been reported in Russian-occupied Crimea. Petrol deliveries to the peninsula have been disrupted by Ukrainian drone strikes on the highway linking Crimea with Russia's Rostov Oblast.
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