Fuel crisis has spread across most of Russia and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
Strict fuel sales restrictions have been introduced in most Russian regions and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine amid shortages caused by sustained Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Source: Russian media outlet The Bell
Details: The Bell reported that restrictions on civilian fuel sales are currently in force in 53 Russian regions and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Motorists are limited to purchasing no more than 50 litres or are permitted to purchase only one full tank of fuel in 18 Russian federal subjects as well as in occupied Crimea and parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
A further 11 Russian regions are said to be experiencing significant fuel shortages at most petrol stations, although no formal volume limits have yet been introduced. In addition, major Russian oil companies, including Rosneft, Bashneft and Tyumen Oil Company, have banned the sale of petrol in jerrycans across Russia.
In May, Russian oil production fell to its lowest level of the year amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries. According to Reuters, almost all major oil industry facilities in central Russia had been forced to reduce operations or suspend production entirely by the end of May.
Overall, Ukraine launched drone attacks on eight of Russia's ten largest oil refineries during May. The Yaroslavl refinery and Lukoil facilities in Nizhny Novgorod and Perm were struck more than once. According to Bloomberg's calculations, the decline in refining activity in May was the steepest since the beginning of the full-scale war, with output down by 13%, or around 700,000 barrels per day year-on-year.
Meanwhile, Russia's crude oil exports did not decline in May, generating additional revenue for the Russian treasury amid elevated global oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Analysts argue that this further underscores the decline in domestic refining capacity, as Russia has limited storage for surplus crude oil.
Commenting on strikes on Russian oil-refining facilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "Russia must be forced to end its war" and that "Ukraine's long-range weapons are one of the important components of such pressure".
Background:
- On the night of 11-12 June, Ukrainian forces struck two oil refineries in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, including Taneco, the largest refinery operated by Tatneft in Nizhnekamsk. The refinery subsequently suspended operations. On 16 June, Tatneft introduced fuel sales restrictions at filling stations across Russia.
- On the morning of 16 June, Ukrainian long-range drones struck the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district. The facility is a key fuel supplier for Moscow and provides up to 40% of the capital's petrol needs. The refinery halted operations after a key primary oil-refining unit was damaged.
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