Russia Scrambles to Restore Fuel Supplies as Refineries Resume Operations

Russia is taking swift action to address fuel supply issues as refineries begin to restart operations and alleviate concerns over the ongoing crisis. The shortages, which have persisted since the spring, were primarily caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's refineries, disrupting fuel supply both domestically and to the front lines.

These targeted attacks have been frequent, with drones striking refineries located far from the Ukrainian border, even over 1,000 miles away. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who oversees energy matters and OPEC negotiations, reassured the public on Monday that some refineries have returned to operation, potentially increasing domestic supply.

Novak emphasized that the situation is fluid, with refineries frequently returning to service and decisions made at both federal and regional levels. Despite the progress, Russia continues to grapple with fuel shortages, rationing in various regions, gas station shortages in major cities, and long waiting lines at many gas stations, especially during peak demand periods.

To compensate for the losses, Russia has been importing fuel from South Korea and India, but disruptions due to ongoing attacks have caused one or more refineries to remain offline. Additionally, Russia's diesel and gasoil exports have plummeted this month to their lowest levels in years, as the government imposes restrictions on diesel exports amid the fuel crisis.

This decline in exports further strains the global middle distillate market due to the reduced supply from Russia.