Fuel shortages and purchasing restrictions have spread across at least 16 Russian regions, according to reports from independent media outlet The Moscow Times and regional Russian authorities. The distribution disruptions follow Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil refineries, forcing regional governments to implement rationing, close filling stations, and urge residents to cut back on driving.
Fuel Shortages Grip At Least 16 Russian Regions
The crunch has hit regions from the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow to Siberia. In the Kaluga region, Governor Vladislav Shapsha announced the return of an odd-even system based on vehicle license plate numbers to manage dwindling fuel supplies at local pumps.
Empty Pumps and Agricultural Deficits in Siberia
The scope of the distribution failure varies widely by region, but municipal leaders across the country report severe inventory deficits. According to Natalia Grigorieva, deputy head of the Achinsk district in Krasnoyarsk Krai, 13 out of 47 petrol stations are completely non-operational, while only 16 locations offer multiple types of petrol. Local authorities in Krasnoyarsk also documented shortages of 294 tonnes of diesel and 16.6 tonnes of AI-92 petrol earmarked for agricultural producers.
Red Zones and Container Bans in Bashkortostan
In Bashkortostan, regional officials confirmed that filling stations have temporarily banned the sale of petrol in jerry cans and portable containers following multiple drone attacks on a major petrochemical complex in Ufa. The regional Ministry of Industry and Energy designated three districts—Baltachevsky, Iglino, and Ilishevsky—as “red zones” for fuel scarcity, while seven out of 26 petrol stations in Sterlitamak remain closed.
Lawmakers Report Dry Tanks and Reserved Pumps
Elected officials in other affected areas have acknowledged deepening supply strains. Saratov Oblast Duma lawmaker Stanislav Denisenko noted that some stations have reserved separate pumps for emergency services, though private car owners have reportedly managed to access them. Vladimir Yesipov, a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, stated that he was unable to refuel at a local Lukoil station because reserves had completely run out.
Governors Urge Residents to Cut Non-Essential Travel
Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov described the local fuel situation as difficult, telling residents that no serious improvement should be expected over the next week or two. Artamonov urged citizens to practice mutual assistance and reduce travel. Officials in Sochi issued similar recommendations, advising residents and visitors to rely on public transport as petrol remains available at only two-thirds of the city’s filling stations.
Emergency Imports and Extended Export Bans
Since the beginning of August, fuel sales restrictions have been documented in Krasnodar and Primorsky Krais, alongside Kaluga, Rostov, Tambov, Tula, Saratov, Penza, Voronezh, Ryazan, Ulyanovsk, and Smolensk oblasts.
To offset domestic refining deficits, Russian traders imported nearly 30,000 tonnes of refined fuel from South Korea in late July. The Russian government also began importing maritime shipments of A-92 petrol from Morocco and previously extended formal bans on petrol exports through January 31, 2027, and diesel exports through August 31, 2026.
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