Fuel sales restricted across 15 Russian regions

At least 15 Russian regions have introduced restrictions on fuel sales on 23 June as Russia's fuel crisis deepened amid shortages of petrol and diesel.

Source: Russia's Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Details: Fuel sales restrictions have now reached even the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia's largest oil-producing area, which accounts for around 40% of the country's total crude oil production. Petrol stations operated by Gazprom Neft and Lukoil have limited sales to 40 litres of petrol and 80 litres of diesel per customer, with fuel sold only directly into vehicle tanks.

Similar limits, along with bans on filling jerrycans, have been introduced in Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Saratov, Penza, Omsk, Voronezh and Murmansk oblasts and Krasnoyarsk Krai. Regional authorities say the measures are intended to prevent "artificial shortages" and "panic buying".

In Irkutsk Oblast, some filling stations have imposed restrictions, while others have suspended operations altogether. Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev initially acknowledged on his Telegram channel that the shortages were caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refining facilities. However, he later edited the post and removed that reference.

In Vladimir Oblast, residents have been urged to reduce car travel, while authorities in North Ossetia have ordered the creation of an emergency fuel reserve. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak described the fuel situation during a government meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin as "difficult but under control". He referred to the regional restrictions as "temporary and understandable logistical issues".

In temporarily occupied Crimea, petrol sales for civilian vehicles have effectively been halted following an attack on a logistics hub in the Kerch Strait. In addition, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service has banned the sale of petrol through online marketplaces.

Background:

• Fuel shortages have spread across most Russian regions since June following repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries
• According to Reuters estimates, Russia has lost around 25% of its petrol production capacity as a result of the attacks, while overall oil refining volumes have fallen to their lowest level in 21 years.
• As the fuel crisis worsens, the Russian government is considering a complete ban on diesel exports and subsidies for fuel imports.
• The Russian occupation authorities in Crimea announced new restrictions on petrol sales under which fuel can no longer be purchased by anyone except representatives of the occupation administration.

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