A new wave of fuel shortages is spreading across Russia, with authorities in at least 10 regions tightening controls on gasoline sales after a fresh series of drone attacks on oil refineries, Reuters reported Monday.
Reuters reported that gasoline was unavailable at some filling stations in the Moscow region, although diesel remained available at almost all stations.
The shortages follow a fuel crisis that began intensifying in May and spread to almost all Russian regions by July.
Fuel shortages return across Russia
Russian authorities said Friday that fuel supplies to filling stations remained difficult in several parts of the country.
Energy officials discussed the situation in at least 10 regions, including Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, Krasnodar, Zabaykalsky, Primorsky, Krasnoyarsk, Oryol, Tuva, and Khakassia.
Local authorities have again introduced restrictions on fuel sales in some areas.
The latest shortages come after the situation briefly improved by the end of July. Restrictions were lifted or eased in some regions after the government took measures to increase domestic supplies.
Those measures included a ban on gasoline and diesel exports, lower quality requirements for some petroleum products, and increased imports.
Drone strikes hit Russian oil infrastructure
The latest disruption followed a new wave of drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in late July and early August.
The attacks have compounded existing pressure on Russia’s fuel market, where several refineries have been shut down after being hit by drones.
Seasonal demand has added to the strain, with fuel consumption rising during the summer.
The authorities’ efforts to compensate for the refinery disruptions had helped stabilize supplies temporarily, but the improvement did not last.
The renewed shortages are also visible in wholesale market data.
Gasoline sales at the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange have fallen by an average of 20% since the beginning of August compared with the second half of July, according to exchange data.
The latest restrictions suggest that Russia’s fuel market remains vulnerable to further disruptions to refinery operations.
The government has not indicated how long the latest measures will remain in place.