{
  "id": 4004185,
  "title": "Russia's gasoline output 'drops to 70% of domestic demand' late in August after drone attacks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/russias-gasoline-output-drops-to-70-of-domestic-demand-late-in-august",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times Business",
    "slug": "gulf-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/732079/business/russias-gasoline-output-drops-to-70-of-domestic-demand-late-in-august-after-drone-attacks"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "By late August, Russia's gasoline production had plummeted to approximately 70% of its domestic consumption needs, following a series of drone attacks that compelled major refineries to halt operations, according to industry insiders. Ukraine's intensified assaults on Russia's energy infrastructure aimed to reduce Moscow's earnings, resulting in a fuel shortage that compelled the nation to import petroleum products and enforce sales limitations nationwide. After a brief lull in late July, when certain local authorities initiated a relaxation or removal of fuel sales restrictions, fuel scarcities resurfaced in Russian regions during August. Gasoline production ended August at a level similar to the peak observed in early July, during the height of the fuel crisis that had been escalating since May, according to sources.\n\nRegional authorities reinstated restrictions, encompassing limits on purchases per individual and sales schedules contingent on vehicle registration plate numbers. The ramifications of the shortages were somewhat mitigated as drivers opted to avoid non-essential journeys due to the risk of extended queues at fuel stations or depletion of fuel reserves. Over the past week, drones targeted and halted the activities of several key refineries, including facilities in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, and Yaroslavl – all prominent producers of motor gasoline. The abrupt shutdowns widened the discrepancy between gasoline production and market demand to roughly 35,000 metric tons daily, implying that present output, around 80,000 tons daily, only meets 70% of domestic demand, sources disclosed. Average gasoline production in August reached about 90,000 tons daily, roughly equivalent to 80% of the estimated summer demand of 115,000 tons daily.\n\nRussia's Energy Ministry refrained from commenting on a request for information from Reuters. The fuel shortfall compelled Russia to augment imports of petroleum products. Sea-borne supplies from Asian nations were projected to total around 270,000 tons in August, while gasoline imports from Belarus were anticipated to reach approximately 150,000 tons during the month, equating to roughly 5,000 tons per day, based on market participants. Overall, about 220,000 tons of imported gasoline had already entered Russia in August, traders estimate, averaging around 7,000 tons per day. With gasoline exports prohibited until January 31 and imports compensating for domestic production, supplies to the domestic market could average approximately 97,000 tons per day in August, or approximately 85% of demand.",
  "summary": "Russia's gasoline production fell to about 70% of domestic consumption levels by the end of August after a series of drone attacks forced major refineries to suspend operations, according to two ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}