Russia faces a gasoline shortage and price surge following Ukrainian refinery attacks

Ukrainian drone attacks on major Russian oil refineries have triggered gasoline shortages and price surges across the country. The damage has led to production declines, with disruptions reported in over 10 regions and rationing in occupied Crimea. In response, Moscow has banned gasoline exports until late July and, in a rare move for the major oil exporter, is set to import fuel by sea to manage the crisis.

Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries

• ▪Recent Ukrainian drone attacks hit the TANECO and Moscow refineries, leading to the suspension of processing at both plants.
• ▪In May 2026, eight of Russia's 10 largest oil refineries were targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes.
• ▪The drone attacks are affecting secondary processing facilities used for gasoline and diesel production, not just primary refining units.
• ▪Ukrainian drone attacks have targeted Russian refineries, pipelines, and fuel storage facilities to curb Moscow's ability to finance its war effort.

Fuel shortages across Russian regions

• ▪In Russia's Krasnodar region, 15 filling stations completely suspended fuel sales.
• ▪Shortages have been officially confirmed in Russian-held Crimea and two regions in Siberia.

Crimea supply route disruptions

• ▪Drone strikes have disrupted traffic on the "Novorossiya Highway," a key fuel supply route linking Crimea to Russia's Rostov region.
• ▪Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov described the strikes on transport routes between Crimea and Russia as a "logistical lockdown."

Gasoline rationing in Crimea

• ▪In occupied Crimea, premium gasoline is only available with ration coupons.
• ▪Major fuel station chains in Crimea have stopped selling premium gasoline to private customers for several weeks.
• ▪Purchases of regular gasoline in Crimea are limited to a maximum of 20 liters.

Refinery damage production decline

• ▪Russia's production of petroleum products fell by 9% in April 2026 compared to the previous year, according to Russia's statistics agency Rosstat.
• ▪Bloomberg estimated that Russia's petroleum product output dropped by 13% year-on-year in May 2026.
• ▪Average retail gasoline prices in Russia increased 1% to 69.11 rubles ($0.95) per liter during the week of June 9-15, 2026.

Russian government crisis response

• ▪Russia has also imported fuel from Belarus and previously sought small volumes from Kazakhstan to address shortages.
• ▪Russia is set to import a cargo of gasoline by sea from Asia in June 2026, a rare move for the major oil exporter.
• ▪The Russian government banned gasoline exports for producers until the end of July 2026 to maximize domestic supply.
• ▪Russia's Energy Ministry launched an "industry task force" on June 8, 2026, to ensure the stable operation of the country's fuel and energy complex.

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