Russia admits fuel supply problems after Ukrainian attacks

Russia's Energy Ministry has admitted to facing fuel supply problems, attributing them to an increase in Ukrainian aerial attacks. The ministry stated these attacks are causing temporary difficulties in several southern regions. To address this, a special task force has been established within the ministry, involving companies from the fuel and energy sector, to guarantee stable and efficient fuel supplies nationwide.

This admission follows earlier acknowledgments from Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who noted at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Russia was producing less oil than initially planned due to unscheduled repairs. Additionally, Moscow-appointed authorities in Crimea and Luhansk had already implemented restrictions on gasoline distribution. The Russian government also banned the export of kerosene for the first time, a measure effective until the end of November.

Ukraine has been employing drone attacks against Russia's oil industry for months as part of its counteroffensive. Kyiv's military aims to disrupt the fuel supply for the Russian army and diminish the energy sector's revenue, which is crucial for Moscow's war funding. These attacks also serve to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating stance in potential future talks with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently discussed diplomatic initiatives to end the war with US intermediaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for their willingness to actively work on reviving diplomacy in the coming weeks. He had previously lamented the delay in the arrival of US negotiators, which he had announced for mid-April.