Fuel Crisis in Russia and Occupied Territories: Sales Restrictions in 53 Regions

Strict fuel sales restrictions have been imposed in 53 regions of Russia and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries. According to The Bell, in 18 subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as in occupied Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, drivers are sold no more than 50 liters or allowed to fill only one full tank. Significant fuel shortages are also reported in 11 other Russian regions.

Major Russian oil companies, including «Rosneft», «Bashneft», and TNK, have completely banned the sale of gasoline in canisters across Russia. In May, Russia's oil production fell to an annual low. Ukraine attacked 8 out of 10 largest Russian oil refineries with drones, with the Yaroslavl refinery and Lukoil plants in Nizhny Novgorod and Perm suffering repeated strikes. The decline in oil refining in May was the most significant since the start of the war, with volumes falling by 13%, or 700,000 barrels per day.

Crude oil exports from Russia in May did not decrease, bringing in super-profits to the budget due to high global prices, which confirms the decline in domestic refining. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that «Russia must be forced to end the war» and that «Ukrainian long-range weapons are one of the important components of such coercion».

On June 12, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck oil refineries in Tatarstan, including the Taneco plant in Nizhnekamsk, which halted refining. On June 16, Tatneft introduced restrictions at gas stations. On the same day, Ukrainian drones attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery, which supplies up to 40% of Moscow's gasoline needs, leading to its shutdown.