Russia has banned the export of fuel until the end of the year as it is becoming increasingly dry in gas pumps and occupied regions around the country due to Ukraine’s drone attacks.
Kyiv first stepped up drone attacks on Russian refineries, pumping stations and fuel trains to disrupt the fuel supply chain in the summer when demand is high as people drive more during the holidays.
Russian officials initially condemned the shortage on “logistical reasons” and promised that gasoline and diesel would flow again, but the shortage has only worsened in recent weeks.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it hit several Russian fuel production sites and pumping stations this week, including a major oil refinery in Bashkortostan in southern Russia run by Gazprom.
The export ban is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to address the shortage. Moscow first banned some gasoline exports in March, and extended the ban on all major producers in July.
On Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that the embargo would be extended again this time until the end of the year, and that exports of some diesel fuels would also be banned.
According to the Russian state communications agency TASS, Novak admitted that “there is a slight shortage of petroleum products,” but said this was “covered by accumulated reserves.”
Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of diesel fuels, and its exports are an important source of revenue for the government.
Pro Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported that several local gas stations have begun distributing petrol and diesel, and that each customer can only purchase a limited amount.
This situation appears to be the worst in Crimea, the southern Ukrainian peninsula that Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
Kommersant, a well-known Russian privately owned business news outlet, reported on Wednesday that about half of Crimean pumps have been incapacitated due to a shortage.
The situation is so bad that the occupied Crimean governor imposed on Russia acknowledged the real reason behind the shortage and condemned the “decrease in production” at Russian oil refineries, but without mentioning this reason, it is the war that Russia was fighting in Ukraine.
Videos and images shared on social media show long lines of cars waiting at several gas stations that still have supplies.
Crimean Wind, a popular Telegram channel that shares the latest on ground, reported on Wednesday that Sebastopol, Crimea’s biggest city, is completely out of petrol.
When two tankers arrived at one pump in the city, they said that a huge car had formed almost immediately. Within hours the tanker was empty. According to the channel, gasoline was on sale for about a third of its share compared to last month.
“There is no hay route yet. The prices for horses and donkeys are stable,” the channel added sarcastically.
