Russia is experiencing an acute shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel across its domestic market, a direct consequence of escalating Ukrainian drone attacks on its oil refineries. Gasoline production has plummeted by approximately 25% compared to June 2025 levels, now at about 90,000 tonnes per day. This significant drop has led to industry sources reporting shortfalls of at least 25,000 tons daily below summertime domestic demand, which is estimated at 110,000 tons per day. Exports of Russian petroleum products by sea also witnessed a 15% decline in the first half of June.
The widespread shortages are manifesting in various regions across Russia through restrictions on fuel sales, rising prices, and queues at gas stations. Regional authorities, including those in Omsk Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Voronezh region, and Saratov Region, have imposed limits on gasoline and diesel purchases. For instance, in Omsk, drivers are restricted to 40 liters of gasoline or 80 liters of diesel per fill-up, with no fueling into canisters, and a 200-liter limit for diesel at highway stations. The Moscow Oil Refinery, which supplies up to 40% of Moscow's gasoline, was hit by drones in mid-June, exacerbating the supply crisis. Average retail gasoline prices increased 1% from June 9-15, reaching 69.11 rubles ($0.95) per liter, the largest jump since early January.
In response to the crisis, the Russian government is considering several measures to ease the shortage. These include importing petroleum products and providing subsidies to curb rising prices. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak chaired a meeting to discuss these options. Other proposed strategies include lowering fuel quality requirements to Euro-3 standards and resuming the use of monomethylaniline, an octane-boosting additive, to potentially increase gasoline production by as much as 200,000 tons per month. The current gap is partly being covered by supplies from Belarus and existing inventories, but the severity of the situation has prompted Russia to plan for seaborne fuel imports.
