Russia is facing a growing fuel crisis. Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov has announced that the country’s oil refineries will postpone their scheduled maintenance in order to maintain production and secure sufficient fuel supplies. The decision comes amid widespread shortages following Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian petrochemical facilities.
“Additional measures have been taken to prevent speculative price increases: coordination of logistics and acceleration of fuel deliveries to all regions,” Tsivilyov said on Wednesday, responding to reports of fuel shortages at gas stations across the country.
Export Restrictions and Declining Production
In September, Moscow introduced partial restrictions on diesel exports and extended existing limits on gasoline exports until the end of the year. The restrictions were initially imposed in March but later expanded in August to include fuel-producing companies.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Energy, these measures are intended to stabilize the domestic market, though experts note that the shortages are the direct result of sustained Ukrainian strikes targeting refineries, pipelines, and storage depots.
Fuel shortages have been reported in Crimea, European Russia, and the Far East. Across the country, supply deficits are estimated to reach at least 20 percent.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Deep Inside Russia
Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure using domestically produced drones, capable of reaching targets as far as 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers from the front lines. These operations have disrupted output at several major refineries, including facilities in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Tuapse.
According to Kommersant, the Russian fuel market is currently short by roughly 400,000 tons of gasoline each month, out of a national demand of 2 million tons. Production reportedly dropped by 1 million tons in September alone following strikes on at least six refineries.
Government Lifts Import Duties to Stabilize Supply
In early October, the Russian government lifted import duties on gasoline, diesel, marine, and aviation fuels until June 30, 2026. The move, announced by Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Trade Minister Andrei Slepnyov, is aimed at “ensuring balance in the domestic fuel market in light of declining production and seasonal increases in demand.”
Meanwhile, fuel rationing has been introduced in occupied Crimea, where residents are allowed to purchase no more than 30 liters of gasoline per transaction.
A Crisis Spreading Across Russia
The ongoing energy crisis adds to the mounting economic pressure on Russia’s industrial and transport sectors, already strained by international sanctions and wartime disruptions. Analysts warn that the situation could worsen through the winter as demand rises and refinery repairs are further delayed.
