Russia fuel shortage fuels queues, theft and surge in electric car sales

Sales of new electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles in Russia jumped sharply in June, according to consultancy Autostat, as many drivers seek to avoid long gasoline queues caused by a nationwide fuel shortage. Engineer Oksana Yasinskaya, who commutes to Moscow, said her second‑hand electric hatchback cut her commuting costs by about 80 % and spared her the humiliation of waiting at petrol stations.

The shortage, deepened by Ukrainian attacks on major refineries such as those in Omsk and Saratov, has left roughly 50 million Russians without reliable fuel. People have set up tents and grills at stations, fought over limited supplies, and even drilled holes in other cars to siphon gasoline. Private stations are often empty, while state‑run Rosneft outlets remain the only reliable source for many motorists.