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Fuel crisis deepens
Ukrainian drone strikes have hit several Russian refineries since the start of summer, and Franceinfo reports that experts estimate between 10 and 15 percent of the country’s refining capacity is unavailable.
“Ukraine’s intensive drone strikes on Russian-occupied regions have disrupted Moscow’s supply chains and deepened the fuel crisis, writes the BBC”
The same Franceinfo report says long lines stretch outside gas stations in some Russian regions, and that for one liter of gasoline motorists must pay 84 rubles, about one euro.
In Crimea and the Far East, motorists complain about price increases as the government says everything is under control, while repairs are complicated due to sanctions and the lack of spare parts.
Franceinfo also quotes fuel market expert Mikhail Kroutikhine saying the capacity of Russian refineries has fallen by about 10 percent due to Ukrainian drone strikes, and that shortages will push prices higher.
TF1 Info adds that Russia announced it would extend its ban on exporting gasoline until October, with a new provisional ban from “du 1er septembre au 31 octobre 2025 inclus” to “maintenir une situation stable sur le marché intérieur des carburants .”
Attacks and official responses
TF1 Info says recent strikes on ten refineries have perturbed about 17% of Russia’s total refining capacity, equivalent to 1,1 million de barils par jour, and it cites drone attacks near Saint-Pétersbourg at the port of Oust-Louga.
RaiNews reports that the numerous raids on Russian refineries are leaving the Kuril Islands momentarily without gasoline, with the president of the Kurili district Konstantin Istomin saying “La vendita al pubblico di AI-92 ... è stata sospesa provvisoriamente.”
RaiNews also says the vice Premier Novak convened the heads of major oil companies to discuss the emergency, while restrictions on sales and purchase limits spread to Primorye and Crimea.
The Guardian briefing quotes Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledging “There are indeed certain problems at the moment. Measures are being taken.”
In the same Guardian briefing, Ukraine’s strikes included the Semykolodezkaya oil plant in Crimea, sparking a fire, and the Kyiv general staff said Ukraine also struck an oil depot near Feodosia in Crimea.
What’s at stake next
The Il Post report says the fuel crisis is tied to Ukrainian attacks on at least ten raffinerie and terminal for the fuel in different Russian regions including Samara, Ryazan, Volgograd, Oryol, and Leningrado, and it describes a reduction of 13-14 per cento della capacità di raffinamento complessiva in Russia.
It adds that the Kremlin imposed a ban on exports for all of August and then extended it to all of September, while the vice premier Aleksandr Novak convened the heads of major oil companies to discuss the crisis and measures needed to remedy it.
In Crimea, Ynetnews reports that Moscow-installed authorities restricted fuel sales to 20 liters per person using payment vouchers, and later expanded restrictions to a ban on cash purchases.
Ynetnews also quotes Crimea governor Sergey Aksyonov saying, “Unfortunately, it does not appear possible to fully satisfy fuel demand at this stage,” while Baltic News Network says the Kremlin-appointed governor admitted on the 5th of June that it is currently impossible to fully meet fuel demand.
The Guardian briefing frames the immediate stakes as a disruption of supplies in several southern regions, citing the energy ministry’s report to Tass that a surge in airstrikes on Russian energy and fuel sites has disrupted supplies, with Peskov seeking to blame panic-buying.
