The Kremlin sees no risk of a fuel shortage from Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Peskov acknowledged that fuel production may be declining in some parts of the country, but attributed the reductions to “seasonal maintenance work.” The “fuel balance has the necessary compensatory system,” he said, adding that the Energy Ministry is monitoring the situation.
A source in the fuel industry told the Russian business daily Kommersant as early as May 12 that a supply shortage of AI-95 had already formed in the market. Kommersant cited seasonal growth in consumption, “unplanned repairs” at major refineries, and a reduction in petroleum product output as reasons for the shortage of 95-grade gasoline. The outlet did not specify why the refineries required repairs.
On May 21, drivers in Ryazan complained that AI-95 and AI-92 gasoline was unavailable at gas stations in the city. A local resident’s post about the shortage of 95-grade gasoline — later deleted — was spotted by the Telegram news channel Govorit NeMoskva in the comments on the page of Governor Pavel Malkov on VKontakte. An anonymous local resident confirmed the fuel shortage to journalists:
Before work I drove past three gas stations in the Oktyabrsky district and couldn’t find 95-grade. The attendant at Polny Bak said that discount card benefits are no longer valid. A driver who pulled up behind me said there’s no 92-grade at many stations either.
The Ryazan region’s Economic Development Ministry replied under the governor’s post that there is no fuel shortage in the region. “Cases of localized gasoline shortages are possible at individual independent non-chain gas stations. This is related to unscheduled repair work at supplier plants,” the ministry added.
Almost all major oil refineries in central Russia have been forced to suspend or reduce production due to Ukrainian drone strikes, Reuters sources say.
In recent weeks, drones have struck a refinery in the city of Kirishi in the Leningrad Region, the Moscow oil refinery, and plants in Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, and Yaroslavl.
These facilities account for about a quarter of Russia’s total refining capacity, Reuters writes.
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