Russia is experiencing widespread fuel shortages and unrest at petrol stations as Ukrainian drone and missile attacks have severely disrupted its oil refining infrastructure. The situation has led to long queues, confrontations, and government measures aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel supply.
The latest strike targeted the Gazprom oil refinery in Omsk, located nearly 1,500 miles from the Ukrainian border, forcing it to halt operations temporarily. This comes weeks after an attack on Moscow’s sole refinery caused significant damage and skies darkened by smoke. In total, all of Russia’s ten largest refineries have been affected since the conflict began.
In response, Russian authorities imposed a ban on diesel exports until at least the end of July to boost local availability. Alexander Novak, Russia’s deputy prime minister, acknowledged public concern over fuel shortages during a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The government also has increased petrol imports from India, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, but supply issues remain pronounced in many regions.
The effects of the fuel crisis are evident across the country. In the Irkutsk region of Siberia, tensions boiled over at petrol stations where motorists waited hours, sometimes more than a day, to refuel. One driver in Chita reported spending 39 hours queuing for fuel, a testament to the scale of the disruption. An unofficial website tracking fuel availability showed stable supplies in Moscow but severe shortages elsewhere.
Authorities have taken unusual steps to maintain order. Cossacks have been deployed at stations in the Black Sea resort city of Anapa, and in some areas, fuel is rationed, with priority given to government officials and veterans of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This selective distribution has sparked concerns about governance failures, including from Vyacheslav Markhayev, a member of Russia’s Communist Party, who criticized the situation as a breakdown in state management.
Public frustration has occasionally erupted into violence. A video circulating online depicted a confrontation in Irkutsk where a driver brandishing a weapon threatened a police officer after cutting in a queue. Such incidents underscore mounting tensions amid growing scarcity.
The Kremlin appears resolute despite the mounting internal challenges. Sources close to President Putin suggest that the attacks on oil infrastructure have reinforced his determination to continue the war effort, with a potential escalation anticipated in the coming months. Meanwhile, Kremlin loyalists call for public calm, with prominent figures invoking historical hardships from the post-Soviet period to contextualize current struggles.
Fuel shortages also threaten broader economic stability in Russia. There are concerns that the scarcity will hinder food transportation and delay agricultural harvesting, leading to crop losses and exacerbating public anxiety.
The intensifying fuel crisis reflects the wider impacts of the ongoing conflict and Ukraine’s strategic targeting of Russia’s energy capacity, which in turn has imposed significant pressure on the Russian domestic front.