Fuel crisis in Russia increases pressure on Kremlin

A new fuel crisis has gripped Russia, intensifying pressure on the Kremlin as attacks by Ukrainian forces on refineries have disrupted supply chains. At least 30 regions are affected, according to Reuters, with the current shortage hitting Moscow and its surrounding areas more severely than previous shortages earlier this year. Social media users have highlighted the impact, noting that fuel stations operated by Gazprom Neft and Tatneft have restricted sales in the capital. Oleg Grigorenko, a contributor to the Russian internet portal “7x,” described the situation as both personal and economic. “It’s not just a private issue if you don’t know whether you can leave the city and return. It’s also an economic problem,” he told Deutsche Welle. According to Grigorenko, taxi drivers, courier services, and construction companies in several regions are reporting declining orders due to their reliance on fuel. “The logistics of private construction firms heavily depend on gasoline,” he added. In the southern region of Krasnodar, local media reports describe long lines forming at gas stations. Authorities attribute this to increased demand during the holiday season. However, residents are already referring to the situation as a disaster during the summer months. On Instagram, real estate agent Igor Sachartschenko wrote that there is no gasoline in Sochi, which once had a relaxed pace reminiscent of pre-Olympic days with fewer cars and visitors. Igor Ananskich, deputy head of the Energy Committee in the Russian State Duma, claimed that the fuel supply could normalize within two to three weeks. However, Nikolai Korschenewskii, a former economics expert who left Russia in protest against its war in Ukraine, disputes this. In a conversation with Deutsche Welle, he pointed out a decline in fuel quality. People have sent him photos of their vehicles displaying error messages related to engine damage caused by contaminated fuel. Korschenewskii explained that vehicles are not starting and must be taken to workshops, where wait times for repairs have been lengthy. Additionally, parts remain unavailable for extended periods. He noted that some vehicles cannot tolerate the fuel being pumped into them. “There is still war and it's unclear what is produced and in what quantities it is mixed,” he said. He sees these ongoing problems in the oil and gas industry as signs of a deeper crisis. According to Bloomberg, Russia’s crude oil exports have declined as much as ever during the war, while oil production has also dropped. “In 2019, Russia produced 11.5 million barrels per day. Today, it is less than nine million. If this trend continues and the issues in oil processing worsen, production could fall to eight million barrels. These would already be conditions for a serious economic and systemic crisis,” Korschenewskii predicted. He does not expect a quick resolution, suggesting Russia is following a similar path to Venezuela, a country with a chronically shrinking gross domestic product. Import hopes are seen as unrealistic, further complicating the situation. The crisis underscores growing concerns over the sustainability of Russia’s energy sector amid ongoing sanctions and internal disruptions. As the fuel shortages persist, the implications for both daily life and the broader economy continue to unfold.