"An Oil Giant With No Fuel: Why Are 200 Cars Lined Up at Every Gas Station in Russia?"

Vehicle Lines at Gas Stations in Moscow and Tambov
18 Refineries Attacked, Processing Capacity Down by One-Third
Emergency Imports: 68,000 Tons of Indian Gasoline Arrive

Russian drivers are forming endless lines in front of gas stations to refuel.

Last June, people lined up to refuel their cars at a Lukoil gas station in Moscow, Russia. Photo by AFP News Agency

On August 18 (local time), according to Yonhap News, citing Russia’s Telegram news channel “Astra,” “Last weekend, hundreds of vehicles were seen stretching in a long queue at a gas station near the Lenin State Farm in the Moscow region as drivers sought fuel for their cars.” This is the result of a prolonged fuel shortage triggered by Ukraine's continued airstrikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

In Tambov in western Russia, cars lined up in front of gas stations waiting for fuel tankers to arrive. According to local residents, while diesel is still somewhat available, 95-octane (A95) gasoline has virtually disappeared. It is reported that even A92-grade fuel, which has lower octane, is being sold at only one or two locations within a 600km radius. One citizen commented, "The lines are incredibly long, fuel is in short supply, and the situation is steadily worsening," adding, "What on earth is happening?"

The situation was no different in Tula, Voronezh, and Samara. In front of a highway gas station in Rostov, around 200 vehicles were lining up. Multiple videos have emerged showing long queues of cars stretching towards gas stations.

Vehicles lined up in front of a gas station in Kaliningrad, Russia. Photo by TASS Yonhap News

In July alone, 18 Russian refineries were targeted by attacks—exceeding the previous monthly record of 17. This included Russia’s largest Omsk refinery, which is located more than 2,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. In the same month, the average daily crude processing volume fell to 3.6 million barrels, the lowest level since May 2002. The combined processing capacity of facilities that halted or greatly reduced operations now amounts to nearly a quarter of Russia’s total. The Kapotnya refinery, the Moscow region’s largest supplier, was hit twice last June and will remain closed at least until the end of this year.

The fuel shortage became acute starting in May and reportedly spread to nearly all regions by July. While restrictions on oil product exports and relaxed quality standards by Russian authorities provided temporary relief, the shutdown of refineries along with seasonal demand spikes has deepened the crisis once again. As a result, on August 17, at least 10 regional governments reinstated stricter fuel sales controls.

The Bank of Russia identified gasoline price hikes as an inflation risk factor. As of late June, the inflation rate stood at 6%, above the central bank’s 4% target, and the government lowered its economic growth forecast for the year to 0.4%.

Ultimately, Russia—one of the world’s largest oil-producing countries—has started to import gasoline. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated last month, "We will begin importing oil products to stabilize the domestic market." Earlier this month, an Omani-flagged tanker delivered about 68,000 tons of Indian gasoline to Vitino Port in Russia's Arctic region, and import efforts have also extended to fuel from Belarus and Kazakhstan.

On the same day, Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev said in an interview, "Every gas station is stocked with diesel and gasoline, but I agree that queues have formed," adding, "We are actively working to resolve this issue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.