Russia’s Fuel Crisis Deepens as Imports Fail to Offset Drone Damage

Key points

• Petrol availability fell to 28% of stations nationwide, down from 41% a week earlier, with queues reappearing in Moscow for the first time in this crisis phase.
• Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged 54% of Russia’s refining capacity, causing a daily production deficit of roughly 35% against summer demand.
• Russia has begun importing gasoline from India, Morocco, and Belarus, but logistical and pricing disputes have left significant volumes stuck at ports like Murmansk.
• Authorities have reintroduced Euro-2, Euro-3, and Euro-4 fuel grades, which were banned in the 2010s, to supplement supply, while the Federal Antimonopoly Service opened 41 cases against oil companies for price violations.
• Putin dismissed the crisis as 'non-critical,' but energy minister Sergei Tsivilyov acknowledged ongoing queues, and opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky warned the oil industry is near a 'breaking point.'

Background

This escalation follows a series of earlier shortages in July and August 2026, where drone strikes on refineries like Omsk and facilities in Bashkortostan triggered regional rationing, remote work mandates in Siberia, and the deployment of teachers to manage gas station queues. The current crisis represents a second wave, with restrictions returning after a brief period of partial stabilization in late July.

How outlets are covering it

Euronews and The Moscow Times emphasize the return of strict rationing and the failure of previous stabilization efforts, noting that Gazprom Neft and Tatneft have reimposed volume caps. The Guardian highlights the symbolic reversal of Russia’s status as a fuel exporter, detailing specific import shipments from India and the acknowledgment by Deputy PM Alexander Novak. The Daily Beast focuses on the long-term structural damage, citing Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s warning that repairs are insufficient to keep facilities running. While Euronews cites a 28% availability rate, The Moscow Times notes that some regions have lifted caps, indicating uneven impact across the country. All sources agree that Ukrainian strikes are the primary driver, but they differ on the severity: Euronews and The Daily Beast portray a critical breakdown, while The Moscow Times suggests a mixed picture with some areas stabilizing.

Why it matters

The crisis exposes the vulnerability of Russia’s energy infrastructure to sustained drone attacks, undermining its war economy and domestic stability. The reliance on imports and lower-quality fuel grades signals a shift in global energy flows and potential long-term environmental and economic consequences for Russia.

What to watch

Supplies are expected to remain tight until peak summer demand subsides, with a further gap anticipated in September when Belarus’s Novopolotsk refinery undergoes maintenance. The Kremlin is likely to maintain export bans and tighten price controls, while Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure are expected to continue.