Alarm over gasoline in Russia as Ukrainian drone strikes ‘paralyze’ refineries

Gasoline production in Russia fell sharply at the end of August, reaching around 70% of domestic demand following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on energy infrastructure. The attacks hit several of the country’s major refineries, forcing some of them to temporarily suspend operations. The situation has revived concerns about fuel shortages in some regions of Russia.

According to reports from foreign media, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on facilities belonging to Russia’s oil industry as part of efforts to damage energy infrastructure and reduce Moscow’s revenues from oil exports. Gasoline shortages re-emerged in August after a temporary improvement at the end of July, when some local authorities had eased or lifted restrictions on fuel sales.

Production at the end of August returned to levels similar to those at the beginning of July, a period when Russia’s fuel crisis had reached one of its highest points. In the past week alone, drone strikes have hit several major refineries, including facilities in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl, which play an important role in gasoline production. If the disruptions continue, pressure on fuel supplies in Russia’s domestic market is expected to increase further.