Gas queues grow as Ukraine targets Russia's fuel supply

Lead

Fuel queues have become a daily reality for motorists across Russia, long lines forming at petrol stations from Moscow to Vologda and beyond. Drivers describe waiting hours, some even the night, as service stations either close or ration supply. The crisis, which has touched more than 70% of Russian regions since June, stems in large part from escalating Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

In Moscow, the BBC reported queues outside most petrol stations, some long, others short, with the worst-hit closed entirely. Elmar, a driver waiting to fill up his car for a planned trip to Dagestan, said the queue presented a real problem: “You are wasting hours to fill up.” Valery, another motorist, blamed poor preparation as much as Ukrainian missiles, saying: “I have no desire to get used to queues.”

In Vologda, Yelena, waiting in her car near a closed station, told France 24: “What a horrible situation. … We’ll see if there’s any petrol left.” She is one of a million facing the fuel crisis that Russian authorities have yet to fully control.

Coverage comparison

Contributing reports from BBC News, Deutsche Welle, and France 24 all outline the scope of the problem. BBC reports focused on the daily reality in Moscow, quoting several motorists who disclosed the scarcities of fuel and dispensing. The station also captured the sense of anxiety among residents, with one noting there is “panic because everybody thinks there will be no oil.”

Deutsche Welle highlighted particularly acute situations in regions like Chita, where drivers reported queuing for up to 36 hours and social media recorded some selling places in line for 35,000 rubles (€400). The outlet also reported stories of a woman in Gelendzhik who spent three nights sleeping in her car while trying to fill up.

France 24 focused on Vologda, where no more than a handful of petrol stations have stayed open. According to an AFP tally cited in that report, more than 90 percent of Russian regions have face fuel rationing or shortages since June. The footage and accounts suggest that the authorities’ steps to limit exports have started to ease the congestion in some cities yet the crisis deepens.

Key Claims

• Long queues and shortage asi have spread across Russia, particularly in Moscow, Vologda and others, as reported by BBC News, Deutsche Welle and France 24.
• Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries have contributed to intensifying fuel scarcity, reports BBC and other sources.
• The Kremlin has tried to downplay the crisis and President Vladimir Putin has interjected that situation is not critical, as reported by France 24.
• Since June, more than 90% of Russian regions have experienced fuel rationing or shortages, according to an AFP tally carried by France 24.
• The Russian government has banned exports of certain grades of petrol and aviation fuel, extended the ban to diesel, and introduced fuel rationing – steps that have started to ease the situation in Moscow and others regions, as reported by France 24.
• In some regions, such as in the Transbaikal city of Chita, drivers have waited in line for over 30 hours, with some social media chatter claiming people selling their queue places for as much as €460, as reported by Deutsche Welle.