70% of Russian gas stations left without gasoline or diesel

Recent reports from Russia reveal a severe fuel shortage affecting 70% of the nation's gas stations, leaving only 28.1% with gasoline or diesel available as of August 16, according to independent outlet The Moscow Times. The scarcity has intensified most notably in certain regions such as Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Voronezh, Samara, Penza, Saratov, Lipetsk, Rostov oblasts, and Tatarstan.

Authorities in eight regions, including Krasnodar Krai and Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts, have acknowledged the fuel problems. Across 13 additional regions, including Moscow and Moscow Oblast to Yakutia, Zabaykalsky Krai and Adygea, residents have expressed their concerns on social media regarding fuel shortages.

A spot check conducted by journalists on August 17 in Moscow Oblast found that out of 21 gas stations surveyed, A-92 gasoline was available at seven stations, A-95 at six, and A-98 at five. S&P Global's estimates suggest that Ukrainian drone attacks have disabled at least 26 Russian refineries between January and July. Of these, seven refineries have remained offline, and four more plants shut down in August.

Oil processing volumes in Russia are now at approximately 3.6 million barrels per day, marking the lowest level since May 2002. However, the August throughput has recovered to around 4 million barrels per day, though it remains about 30% below the seasonal norm, as per EA Analytics.

Analysts at Rystad have warned that the situation could worsen by early September, when one of the two Belarusian refineries that supply Russia is scheduled for repairs and several large Russian plants are set for maintenance. The government has reportedly been moving gasoline from other regions to Moscow.