Against the backdrop of a fuel shortage in Russia, offers have emerged for ‘magical rituals’ for cars, which are claimed to reduce petrol consumption. This was reported by the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service. Meanwhile, Reuters has reported queues at petrol stations, rationing of sales and inflated fuel prices across various regions of the country.
Briefly about the main points
- The Security Service of Ukraine has reported on advertisements for esoteric services aimed at drivers in Russia.
- Drivers in some regions are queuing for limited supplies of petrol.
- Reuters estimated petrol output at approximately 65% of seasonal consumption.
- Russia has restricted petrol exports and banned diesel exports.
- Russian companies have approached India regarding additional supplies of petrol.
Rituals and charms for cars
According to a report by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Russian magicians, sorcerers and esotericists are offering their services to drivers facing fuel shortages. These offers include «wax casting», the setting up of runic spells, the search for «magic needles» inside the car, and amulets.
The SZR also cited the prices quoted by the service providers: from 1,500 roubles for a «wax casting» to 16,000 roubles for a ritual involving salt and a gold ornament. According to the sellers of such services, the ritual can reduce petrol or diesel consumption and even «draw» fuel into the tank. These offers and their prices are set out in the Ukrainian intelligence report.
Queues, quotas and falls in production
In many Russian regions, drivers are forced to wait round the clock at petrol stations to buy 10–20 litres of petrol. Reuters also reported on 16 July that queues, inflated prices, sales quotas in different time zones across the country, and restrictions on filling portable jerry cans with fuel in certain areas.
Petrol production in the Russian Federation stands at around 65% of the seasonal consumption level. This is due to shutdowns at major Oil refinery following Ukrainian strikes.
Administrative restrictions and import sourcing
The Russian authorities tried to restrain shortage export restrictions. The Russian government has extended the restrictions on petrol exports, which were due to remain in place until 31 July, to include direct producers of petroleum products, citing seasonal demand, field operations and the stabilisation of the domestic market as the reasons for this move.
On 8 July, Russia also banned export of diesel engines to meet domestic demand. Russian oil companies have approached Indian refineries to request additional supplies of petrol; at least one shipment of Indian petrol was already on its way to Russia.
A domestic symptom of a wider fuel crisis
The emergence of adverts promoting «magical fuel savings» appears to be a common reaction to the limited physical availability of petrol. At the same time, it is not a standalone cause or indicator of the scale of the shortage: the key indicators of the situation remain reduced production, queues, sales quotas and attempts to compensate for the shortage through administrative measures and imports.
Reuters also reported that fuel shortages are causing concern among farmers ahead of the harvest, whilst supply disruptions and rising prices have affected Central Asian countries that rely on Russian supplies. The agency’s sources suggested that the situation might improve somewhat in the second half of July, following the resumption of operations at several refineries, a rise in imports and the absence of further attacks.
