Russia Fails to Cope with Fuel Crisis: Shortage Spreads Across the Country
The fuel crisis in Russia continues to escalate amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure. The Kremlin is trying to manage it, but a gasoline shortage is spreading to new regions.
What is the Situation at Russian Gas Stations?
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this in their assessment.
Experts note that a gasoline shortage and rising fuel prices are now observed even in Russian cities that previously did not have such problems.
According to Fontanka, the crisis has already reached:
- St. Petersburg;
- Tula;
- Voronezh.
In various regions of the country, drivers report queues at gas stations, limits on gasoline sales, and closures of individual stations.
In Moscow, for instance, queues formed at some Rosneft stations, and a Gazpromneft station in the Krylatskoye area temporarily suspended operations. Drivers also face restrictions — no more than 60 liters per person, reports ASTRA.
At some Tatneft stations in the capital, even stricter limits apply — up to 30 liters of AI-95 gasoline per vehicle.
- Queues and restrictions are also recorded in Tver.
- Residents of Mordovia report a shortage of gasoline.
- In Saransk, queues of dozens of cars formed at stations.
- In Kolomna, some stations temporarily closed due to a lack of fuel.
The fuel shortage is already affecting public transport. For example, in Ivanovo on June 19, about 10% of passenger buses could not operate because drivers had to wait in lines at gas stations for hours.
How Gasoline Prices are Rising
At the same time, prices in Russia have sharply increased. Specifically, at some Tatneft stations near Moscow, the price of AI-95 gasoline jumped to 95 rubles per liter. Usually in the capital, this type of fuel costs about 71–73 rubles per liter.
ISW analysts note that some smaller gas station chains not affiliated with major oil companies are forced to raise fuel prices to avoid losses.
However, this situation does not please Russians. More and more people are complaining about rising prices and fuel supply disruptions.
Local authorities in some Russian regions are trying to mitigate the crisis. For example, in the Saratov region, they are already considering introducing price caps on fuel for gas stations, despite growing demand and supply problems.
Nevertheless, experts believe that Russia is unlikely to quell the fuel crisis as long as Ukraine continues to strike its oil refining industry.
"It will be increasingly difficult for the Russian government to curb price increases and eliminate the shortage in the short to medium term, as intensified Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities continue to worsen the situation," ISW concludes.
Recall that fuel prices in Russia are currently rising at the fastest pace since the start of the full-scale war. According to Janis Kluge, a research fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, from the beginning of 2026 to June 15, fuel prices increased by 6.61%, roughly twice as much as during the same period in 2022–2025.
