Russia is facing a severe fuel deficit following Ukrainian drone strikes that have disabled a significant portion of its oil refining capacity. Long lines at petrol stations are now common across the country, including in Moscow, where drivers wait hours to fill up. Some stations have run completely dry.
Residents express mounting anxiety. Irina, a Moscow resident waiting to refuel, told Al Jazeera: 'I’m deeply frightened by the uncertainty and the lack of understanding where the situation is heading.' Another resident, Igor, warned: 'I think things can get out of control if the crisis causes major industries to shut down.'
Analysts predict higher fuel prices will lead to increased transportation costs and significant price hikes for goods and services. Stanislav Mitrakhovich of the National Energy Security Fund at the Russian Financial University described the crisis as 'deep' and noted that authorities were slow to acknowledge it, leading to greater public distrust and panic buying.
To address the shortage, Russia has imposed fuel rationing, limiting sales to 20-30 litres per vehicle and banning jerry can fills. The government has banned petrol and jet fuel exports and is considering a ban on diesel exports. Fuel-quality regulations have been loosened to allow lower-grade fuel domestically.
In Russia-controlled Crimea, a state of emergency has been declared. Authorities are prioritizing fuel allocations for the agricultural harvesting season to prevent food security issues. Moscow has sought imports from Belarus and Asian markets, including 60,000-80,000 tonnes of petrol from India, with plans to import 400,000 tonnes monthly from various countries.
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the crisis but insisted it is not critical, emphasizing the need to increase air defense production and speed up refinery repairs. Ukraine has authorized a 40-day military and intelligence campaign to pressure Russia into ending the war. Mitrakhovich noted that the crisis's outcome depends on the effectiveness of Ukraine's drone strikes versus Russia's air defenses.
