According to Rosstat, between August 11 and August 17, gasoline prices increased across 40 regions in Russia, with rises ranging from 3.6% to 12.1% for various fuel types. This trend is expected to continue as the government begins to import gasoline, with domestic prices trading at 56 rubles per liter, compared to imported gasoline at 80 rubles.
Issues are not limited to pricing; availability has also become a significant concern. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, some networks have reinstated sales limits. For instance, at “Tatneft” stations, individuals can purchase up to 50 liters of gasoline and 60 liters of diesel, while “Gazprom Neft” allows up to 60 liters of gasoline with no restrictions. As of August 20, BenZinMap reports that strict fuel sales restrictions are in place in at least 59 regions, with an additional 17 experiencing local shortages or significant price hikes. The most severe fuel shortages are being reported in Siberia, where, in the Bodaybo district of Irkutsk Oblast, gasoline supplies could run out within a month without new deliveries.
Furthermore, the fuel crisis has led to shortages of motor oils, with some types disappearing from sale, delivery times extending, and prices rising by up to 40%. These disruptions are attributed to the shutdown of several oil refineries due to drone strikes and a lack of imported additives necessary for production.
Contextual factors include the fuel market’s struggles during June and July due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and storage facilities. The Ukrainian military’s General Staff reported that these strikes damaged approximately 42.74% of Russia’s oil refining capacity by early July. Although some regions began to ease fuel sale restrictions in mid-July, reports from early August indicated renewed issues with gasoline supply in Moscow and surrounding areas.
