Russia's Fuel Crisis Worsens Amidst Long Queues and Crackdowns

Russia is grappling with a worsening fuel crisis, forcing the reintroduction of purchase limits in Moscow and surrounding regions, restricting sales to 50-60 liters per vehicle. The situation has pushed the Russian public to the brink, with widespread footage showing altercations between drivers at gas stations. In at least 12 regions, drivers face waits of up to 30 hours, only to find no fuel available.

The crackdown on dissent is intensifying as citizens voice concerns. In Volgograd, five residents were detained and fined after recording a video appeal to the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, demanding an explanation for why local officials allegedly use priority fuel cards while public pumps remain empty. Authorities labeled their actions as an "unauthorized public gathering." Aleksej Sevastjanov, a lawyer fined and briefly detained for allegedly resisting police, criticized the Kremlin's tactics, calling the intimidation of citizens absurd.

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I think the intimidation of people by saying that filming a video appeal requires the permission of some administration is simply absurd.

Similar tactics are being employed elsewhere. In Perm, a resident was fined for mentioning a planned protest on a small Telegram channel. These measures highlight the growing pressure on Russia's domestic energy network, which is struggling under the strain of Ukraine's intensified "deep strike" campaign. Katia Glod, deputy head of foreign policy at the Center for New Eurasian Strategies, noted that the crisis indicates a significant impact on Russian infrastructure, with reports of fuel shortages in 80 regions and emergency situations declared in Crimea and parts of the Urals.

The crisis is compounded by Ukrainian drone attacks that have reportedly destroyed nearly a third of Russia's major oil refineries since early August. A recent attack damaged a vital processing plant in Bashkiria, and another strike targeted a facility in the Ryazan region. Russia is now reportedly seeking fuel imports from Azerbaijan and exploring the use of refineries in Kazakhstan, while police forces are being deployed to guard gas stations, underscoring the severity of the situation.

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This is a real crisis - in 80 regions of the country there is no gasoline at all, and an emergency has been declared in Crimea and parts of the Urals. Putin's drastic moves show how bad the situation is. Russia is now importing fuel from Azerbaijan, asking if it can use refineries in Kazakhstan, police forces are being sent to guard gas stations - the crisis is serious.