Second wave of fuel shortages sweeps across Russia

A second wave of fuel shortages has engulfed Russia, according to a Reuters report on August 17, citing statements from Russian officials and local news outlets. Gas stations in Moscow Oblast once more found themselves depleted of gasoline, while diesel fuel continued to be accessible at most locations. The fuel crisis, which intensified in May and expanded to encompass nearly all Russian regions by July, was fueled by seasonal demand surges and the shutdown of several refineries following drone attacks, Reuters noted.

In an effort to augment domestic fuel availability, Russian authorities prohibited gasoline and diesel exports, reduced fuel quality standards, and initiated the import of petroleum products. By month's end, the crisis appeared to stabilize, and certain restrictions were either lifted or significantly eased in specific areas. However, this respite proved to be transient, as Reuters reported.

A fresh wave of drone assaults on refineries in late July and early August sparked another round of limitations. According to Reuters' data, the vast majority of Russian regions are presently grappling with stringent fuel sales restrictions, with 16 regions experiencing partial limitations. Russian authorities highlighted the Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, Krasnodar, Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk, Oryol, Tuva, and Khakassia regions as facing the most formidable fuel supply challenges.

On August 11, The Moscow Times disclosed that fuel predicaments in Russia, attributed to recent Ukrainian drone assaults on refineries, had impacted a minimum of 16 regions. In response to the crisis, Russia commenced importing gasoline from India, Kazakhstan, and Morocco. The fuel scarcity has also impacted the approval rating of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which plummeted by a record 5 percentage points to 66%, marking its lowest point in almost four years, since the fall of 2022.

On August 13, Russian media reported that due to Ukrainian strikes on refineries, Russia's oil-refining sector could encounter another multiyear decline in August, with production anticipated to fall short of normal levels until 2026. Reuters, drawing upon industry insights and its own assessments, disclosed that Russia's seaborne exports of petroleum products plummeted by nearly half in July, down 54.7% compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Cumulative exports amounted to 3.93 million tons.