By The Moscow Times | Created at 2026-08-19 11:55:17 | Updated at 2026-08-19 12:31:03
43 minutes ago
Fuel purchase restrictions are beginning to make a comeback in some regions as persistent shortages continue to dog the domestic market following months of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, in what Russian media is calling the “second wave” of the summer fuel crisis.
In Moscow and the surrounding region, Gazprom Neft gas stations have reinstated purchase limits of 60 liters (16 gallons) per customer for regular gasoline. The new limits follow a brief rollback earlier this month when Gazprom Neft eased restrictions across 13 Russian regions.
Tatneft, another major producer, has capped sales at 50 liters (13 gallons) of regular gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle across its network of gas stations in Moscow, according to the business news outlet RBC.
Dozens of Russian regions have faced fuel shortages this summer after months of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and storage hubs. Industry analysts warn that supplies will remain tight across much of the country until peak summer travel demand subsides.
The return of rationing measures in some parts of the country comes despite Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak saying last month that the domestic fuel market was showing signs of “partial stabilization.”
To protect supplies, the Russian government extended a temporary export ban on gasoline and diesel through early next year.
While some gas stations have lifted purchase caps, fuel shortages never fully abated in other parts of the country, including in Siberia and the Far East. So, too, does annexed Crimea continue to face an acute shortage.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have continued long-range strikes against Russian oil facilities. On Wednesday, authorities in the republic of Bashkortostan said a Ukrainian drone set part of an oil refinery ablaze, adding that they expect repairs to take several days.
In July, the average price of gasoline in Russia spiked by nearly 20% since the start of the year. It has since fallen slightly to a national average of 76.04 rubles per liter ($3.38 per gallon) as of Aug. 10.
Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev admitted on Tuesday that long lines continue to form at gas stations, though he insisted that fuel remains available as the government works to resolve logistics bottlenecks. Tsivilev claimed diesel remains available “everywhere” in Russia.
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