Russian authorities have arrested several citizens who protested fuel shortages as Ukraine's intensified drone strikes on oil infrastructure have led to widespread rationing and long queues at petrol stations across Russia. The government has imposed purchase limits on fuel, capping sales between 50 and 60 liters per vehicle in Moscow and surrounding regions, as the impact of Kyiv’s campaign strains the country's domestic fuel supply.

In at least 12 regions, motorists have faced extensive delays, with some waiting up to 30 hours in gridlocked traffic only to find fuel unavailable upon reaching the pumps. Incidents of physical altercations between drivers over fuel scarcity have been documented amid growing public frustration.

Authorities have also moved to suppress public dissatisfaction. In Volgograd, five residents were detained after posting a video appeal questioning why local officials were using priority fuel cards while public stations remained empty. The authorities classified the video as an "unauthorized public gathering," issuing fines to those involved. In Perm, a resident was fined 10,000 rubles after mentioning a planned protest on a Telegram channel with fewer than 50 subscribers. Lawyers and activists have criticised these actions as intimidation tactics aimed at quelling dissent, with some arguing such responses represent an overreach by the government.

Experts suggest the crackdown reflects the significant effect of Ukraine’s aerial attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian drone strikes since early August have damaged nearly a third of Russia’s major oil refineries, including recent attacks that set fire to a key processing plant in Bashkortostan and forced a major refinery in Orsk to close, with repairs potentially taking up to six months.

These disruptions have contributed to Russia processing oil at its lowest levels in more than two decades. In July, daily crude processing dropped to 3.6 million barrels, about one-third below the seasonal average, affecting an estimated 50 million people facing intermittent fuel availability. To mitigate the crisis, Moscow has sought to import fuel from Azerbaijan and India, considered using refineries in Kazakhstan, extended export bans, and lowered national fuel standards to allow Euro-2 fuel, which had previously been banned since 2013.

Despite the evident shortages, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov has maintained that fuel remains widely available, insisting diesel can still be found “everywhere.” However, analysts highlight that President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin appear reluctant to publicly acknowledge the severity of the crisis, attributing shortages to supply bottlenecks and Western sanctions rather than directly addressing infrastructure damage.

Observers warn that the government's approach—marked by denials and increased repression—poses a significant domestic challenge for Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While some hope the fuel crisis might push toward a diplomatic resolution, international engagement remains limited, and the Kremlin's focus appears to remain on maintaining control internally rather than pursuing negotiations.