Following Ukraine's record drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in May and June 2026, including a major strike on the Moscow oil refinery on June 18, Russia is experiencing widespread fuel shortages. These attacks have caused gasoline prices to rise and have brought the economic impact of the war closer to everyday Russians. Regional authorities are attempting to quell concerns, but reports indicate rationing at filling stations.
The situation is severe, with fuel rationing now extended to 53 Russian regions and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg are affected, with some fuel retailers like Tatneft limiting purchases to as little as 20 liters per car. This comes after repeated attacks disrupted oil production, leading to a decline in Russia's oil output to 8.74 million barrels per day in May, down from 8.96 million in April, and below its target by approximately 100,000 barrels.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that more than 20% of Russia's primary refining capacity has been idled due to these strikes, describing the disruption as "unprecedented." To manage the crisis, Russia has banned jet fuel exports until the end of November and allowed refineries to distribute under-refined gasoline with higher sulfur content. There are also plans to increase imports of refined petroleum products from Asia, while the Russian government has established a special task force for fuel supply to regions.
A former Russian deputy energy minister, Vladimir Milov, emphasized the vulnerability of Russia's large refineries, stating that attacking them would trigger a crisis. Despite the growing crisis, Russian state television has downplayed the shortages, and authorities have introduced fines for publishing images that show the effects of Ukrainian strikes. The attacks demonstrate Ukraine's ability to hit targets deep within Russian territory, impacting a crucial source of Moscow's revenue.
