Russia faces nationwide gasoline shortage as Ukraine strikes fuel infrastructure

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil and fuel installations have triggered a severe gasoline shortage across most of Russia. By late June, fuel rationing was in place in roughly half of the country’s 83 regions, with 78 reporting long queues at stations. The crisis spread to the Russian‑occupied Crimea, where private sales have halted and only government and emergency vehicles receive fuel.

The shortage has sparked violent incidents at petrol stations, including fights with knives and a pistol, and reports of officials using a "government" password to bypass queues. President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged “a certain shortage” and ordered the creation of a crisis staff to improve supplies. He also announced subsidies for residents of Crimea to ease the impact. The Kremlin’s narrative that the war does not affect everyday life is increasingly challenged by these shortages and related economic pain.

Local authorities report that the lack of fuel is affecting transport links, tourism and basic utilities, especially on the Crimean peninsula, where electricity and water outages are also reported. The fuel crisis underscores the broader impact of Ukraine’s strategy to target Russian logistics and energy infrastructure.