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Fuel shortages admitted
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged in a Kremlin-published interview that “a certain shortage” of fuel was being observed in Russia after Ukrainian drone strikes targeted oil terminals, refineries, and pipelines.
“Right now, we're observing a certain shortage, but it's not critical”
Putin said the attacks on energy infrastructure “create problems, that’s obvious,” and he added that “Right now, we’re observing a certain shortage, but it’s not critical.”
The admission came as Russian authorities imposed mandatory restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales, with at least 17 regions described as having done so, and as videos showed angry drivers lining up at gasoline stations.
Hours before Putin’s remarks, a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and sparked a fire in a refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev on Telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike hit the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, about 300 kilometers from the front line, and that Ukraine also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 kilometers from the border.
Kyiv frames the strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy framed the refinery strike as part of “operations that weaken Russia’s ability to wage this war,” writing that the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar region was hit.
In the same Kremlin interview, Putin said “As for strikes against critical infrastructure in general, and energy infrastructure in particular, of course these attacks on our infrastructure facilities create problems, that's obvious.”
Putin also told the United Russia party congress that “Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them,” while vowing that Russia would ensure “the inviolability of Russia’s borders.”
The BBC described Putin’s remarks as an unusually frank public acknowledgment, quoting him that “Unfortunately, there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol isn't always easy.”
What comes next
Putin said the main task was to increase Russian anti-aircraft defense capacity and to ensure fuel supplies, particularly to Crimea, after authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea declared an “emergency situation” over fuel shortages and power cuts triggered by Ukrainian attacks.
“authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea on Friday declared an “emergency situation””
In the BBC’s account, Putin promised to increase production of air defences to protect Russian energy infrastructure and to speed up repairs to refineries that Ukraine managed to hit, while also saying that in Crimea only “a few days' supply” was left.
NBC News reported that Putin chaired a meeting with government officials where he discussed fuel distribution and said a ban on diesel exports was under consideration.
The Guardian reported that fuel rationing was in place in at least 56 Russian regions, including Moscow, as of Thursday, and it quoted Putin saying “Right now we’re observing a certain shortage, but it’s not critical.”
Sergey Vakulenko, described by the Guardian as a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre and an expert on Russia’s energy sector, said “the amount of gasoline available in Russia at the moment is determined by a race between Ukrainian drones and Russian repair teams.”
