Fuel shortages now reported across 16 Russian regions

Fuel shortages and restrictions at petrol stations, which have resurfaced following new Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, are now affecting at least 16 regions of Russia.

Source: The Moscow Times, an independent Amsterdam-based news outlet; Russian media outlets

Details: On 10 August alone, restrictions on petrol sales, which had begun to ease in July amid the "diversion" of Ukrainian drones towards Wildberries warehouses, were extended to three more federal constituents.

For example, in the Achinsk district in Krasnoyarsk Krai, home to more than 110,000 people, 13 of 47 petrol stations are not operating, according to the district's deputy head, Natalia Grigorieva. She said only 16 filling stations have several types of petrol available. Local authorities also reported shortages of 294 tonnes of diesel and 16.6 tonnes of AI-92 petrol for agricultural producers.

In Bashkortostan, where drones have attacked one of the country's largest petrochemical complexes in Ufa several times this month, petrol stations have temporarily banned the sale of petrol in jerry cans and other containers. Residents have complained to Radiy Khabirov, the head of the republic, saying the restrictions prevent them from refuelling lawnmowers. The regional Ministry of Industry and Energy confirmed the restriction and asked residents to be understanding.

The authorities also said three districts in Bashkortostan – Baltachevsky, Iglino and Ilishevsky – are in the "red zone" for fuel shortages, while seven out of 26 petrol stations in Sterlitamak are not operating. The Saratov Oblast Duma (parliament) has also acknowledged that the fuel shortage is continuing.

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Stanislav Denisenko, a lawmaker from the LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia), said some petrol stations in the region have designated separate pumps for emergency services, but private car owners – "people close to the authorities" – have also started using them. Vladimir Yesipov, a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), said he was unable to refuel at a Lukoil station because it had run out of petrol.

Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov also described the situation with petrol in the oblast as difficult. "I won't sugar-coat the bitter pill: we should not expect any serious improvement over the next week or two," he said. He also asked residents for "mutual assistance" and urged them to "reduce their travel" where possible.

The Sochi administration issued a similar recommendation, urging residents and visitors to use public transport instead of private cars. According to local authorities, petrol is available at only two-thirds of the city's filling stations.

Since the beginning of August, reports of fuel sales restrictions at petrol stations have been recorded in Krasnodar and Primorsky Krais, as well as in Kaluga, Rostov, Tambov, Tula, Saratov, Penza, Voronezh, Ryazan, Ulyanovsk and Smolensk oblasts of Russia.

Previously:

• In June, fuel shortages emerged in most Russian regions amid regular Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
• On 23 June, at least 15 Russian regions introduced restrictions on fuel sales amid a fuel crisis caused by shortages of petrol and diesel.
• In late June, Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that the country was experiencing problems with motor fuel following Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel depots.

Background:

• Traders shipped almost 30,000 tonnes of refined fuel to Russia from South Korea in late July.
• The Russian government previously extended its ban on petrol exports until 31 January 2027 and on diesel exports until 31 August 2026.
• Russia recently began importing petrol from Africa, bringing in around 30,000 tonnes of A-92 petrol by sea from Morocco.

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