Russia's petrol crisis worsens as citizens feel the bite of Moscow's war in Ukraine

Key Points:

• Russia is experiencing an unprecedented petrol crisis due to Ukrainian attacks on refineries, causing widespread fuel shortages, rationing, and long queues across the country, fueling public frustration and anxiety.
• President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the petrol supply problems caused by Ukrainian strikes but insisted the situation was not critical, despite reports indicating about one-third of Russia's refining capacity has been damaged.
• The crisis coincides with a critical agricultural season, increasing demand for diesel fuel, while sanctions complicate repair efforts by restricting access to specialized imported equipment and spare parts.
• Since April, Ukraine has conducted over 40 attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as part of a strategy to weaken Russia’s military logistics and pressure it to end the war, with recent strikes reaching refineries far from the front lines.
• Russian officials attribute shortages partly to panic buying and have implemented export restrictions on petrol and aviation fuel, with diesel export bans under consideration, while shortages have spread even to areas not directly affected by Ukrainian attacks.