Fights break out at gas station queues in Moscow as Russia’s fuel crisis deepens

Fights erupted among motorists waiting in prolonged lines at gas stations in Moscow, as Russian authorities grappled with a growing domestic fuel crisis, according to independent monitoring channels on August 14. Eyewitnesses reported that drivers waited for hours, with some attempting to jump the queue. Local residents confirmed that Moscow and its surrounding areas were experiencing another gasoline shortage.

Footage captured from the Yaroslavl Highway, linking Sergiev Posad to Moscow, showed several stations closed, with some selling only diesel and others charging higher prices for gasoline. Long lines formed at the few locations still operational. Similar shortages had hit at least 12 Russian regions previously. Supply limits and lengthy lines were particularly concentrated in western and southern territories, including Voronezh, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov oblasts, as well as Krasnodar and Primorsky krais.

The Orenburg and Lipetsk Oblasts reinstated odd-even fuel rationing on August 13, with odd-numbered plates allowed to refuel on August 13 and even-numbered plates eligible to fill up on August 14. Meanwhile, motorists in Sochi faced their fourth consecutive day of hours-long gas lines. Russia has sought gasoline imports from India, Kazakhstan, and Morocco as its domestic fuel crisis worsens.

The shortage has lowered President Vladimir Putin's approval ratings by 5% to 66%, marking his lowest polling level since late 2022. In July 22, Putin acknowledged temporary difficulties in the domestic fuel market, but maintained that the Russian economy remained stable despite Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries and Wildberries logistics centers.