Putin Admits Fuel Shortages Across Russia as 28% of Refining Capacity Goes Offline
Updated
Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Putin Admits Fuel Shortages Across Russia as 28% of Refining Capacity Goes Offline
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jul 6
Summary
More than 50 Russian regions are officially reporting fuel supply problems after Vladimir Putin acknowledged shortages that he said were "not critical."
Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and other energy infrastructure have driven the crunch, with attacks now reaching more than 1,000 miles inside Russia and knocking 28% of refining capacity offline as of June 20.
Irkutsk and at least two other regions have declared heightened alert, while Irkutsk's governor banned gasoline canister sales to everyone except emergency services; even Moscow has seen some gas stations close.
The shortages have spread across all 11 time zones, bringing wartime disruption to ordinary Russians, including drivers in Siberia who reportedly waited up to 18 hours to refuel.
Putin said Russia would rapidly expand air-defense production, while officials are also weighing a diesel export ban and fuel imports from Asian countries.
Russia is facing a severe fuel crisis, with crude oil processing dropping by 25% in June compared to last year, reaching its lowest level in over two decades. This sharp decline is mainly due to disruptions at key refineries, such as the Rosneft facility in Tuapse, which suffered major strikes and saw a 73% reduction in petroleum exports, resulting in significant financial losses. These operational setbacks have directly led to widespread fuel shortages across the country, highlighting the deepening challenges in Russia’s energy sector and economy.