Long queues at Russian petrol stations continue as Kremlin denies fuel shortage

Russia is facing a deepening fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries. Fuel sales restrictions have been imposed in dozens of regions, with people waiting up to 18 hours at petrol stations to buy fuel. Meanwhile, authorities deny the problem exists, with the Kremlin spokesman redirecting questions to the deputy prime minister, who claims there is no serious shortage.

Russia is experiencing a serious fuel crisis stemming from the war and Ukrainian armed forces' drone attacks on oil refineries. Dozens of Russian regions have imposed restrictions on fuel sales, and people are forced to queue for up to 18 hours at petrol stations to obtain petrol.

Kremlin and government shift responsibility to each other

The situation has become particularly acute in Irkutsk, where people queue for fuel for half a day or throughout the night. Paradoxically, Irkutsk is a region where oil is extracted and petrol is produced, but most of it is sent to Moscow.

When asked how authorities are addressing the fuel deficit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov replied: "Aleksandr Novak actually deals with these issues on a daily basis hands-on. Both at the President's meetings and at Novak's daily meetings, a complex of measures to stabilize the fuel market is discussed."

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak countered that in his assessment there is no serious crisis: "Currently, our domestic market is experiencing isolated shortages and disruptions at individual petrol stations. These are being remedied quickly. Overall, our domestic market is supplied with both petrol and diesel fuel."

Reality versus official rhetoric

These two statements vividly illustrate the Russian authorities' approach to the crisis: the Kremlin directs questions to the government, and the government denies the problem exists, while ordinary Russians queue for hours at petrol stations to buy fuel.

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure in recent months have significantly disrupted the country's fuel production capacity. According to experts, several major refineries have suffered considerable damage, which has reduced domestic fuel supplies and forced regional authorities to impose sales restrictions.