Russia’s second fuel crisis spreads, with Moscow taking the brunt as refineries face renewed attacks
Meduza mapped Russia’s second fuel crisis using 478,685 GdeBENZ reports (July 4–Aug 23, 2026) and bank data, showing a wave similar in scale to the first but uneven in impact: Moscow and its region were hit hardest in August, with many stations lacking fuel or operating under lines, while St. Petersburg remained comparatively better. The crisis is tied to drone strikes on oil refineries and export controls; prices rose modestly but overall gasoline and diesel sales stayed well below 2025 levels. The fall could worsen with seasonal demand and refinery maintenance.