The fuel crisis in Russia has worsened due to strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on oil infrastructure. As of early June, petrol shortages and supply disruptions have been reported in more than 25 regions of the country. Oil refineries have been hit hardest, with the number of attacks on them reaching a record high for the entire duration of the war in May.
- More than 25 regions in Russia are experiencing a petrol shortage.
- Attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on oil refineries have led to fuel shortages.
- A record 16 attacks on oil refineries were recorded in May.
- Fuel sales have been temporarily suspended at 15 petrol stations in the Krasnodar Krai.
- Oil refining in Russia has fallen to a 17-year low.
The scale of the fuel crisis in Russia
According to the publication 7×7, in Russia at least 25 regions, excluding the occupied Ukrainian territories, came into conflict due to petrol shortages and disruptions to fuel supplies. This represents a significant worsening of the situation compared with 4 June, when shortages were reported in 15 regions, as well as in the six occupied regions of Ukraine – Crimea, Sevastopol, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
The impact of Ukrainian Armed Forces attacks on oil infrastructure
According to Bloomberg, from January to May 2026, Russian oil refineries were subjected to 38 attacks, 16 of which took place in May alone — this is the highest figure recorded since the start of the war. As a result, the workload Refinery output fell by 14% since the start of the year and remains around 20% below pre-war levels, according to OilX.
Different assessments of the issue at regional level
Acting Governor of the Belgorod Region, Alexander Shuvaev acknowledged that there were supply issues fuel, whilst the head of the Krasnodar Krai Veniamin Kondratiev described the situation as “artificial hype”. Due to a shortage in the Krasnodar Region, fuel sales have been temporarily suspended at 15 petrol stations.
The lowest level of oil refining in 17 years
According to reports, processing volumes oil in Russia In May, they fell to a 17-year low following a series of drone attacks. Over the course of a month, drones struck eight of the country’s ten largest oil refineries, significantly exacerbating the fuel shortage on the domestic market.
Implications for the fuel market and the regions
The decline in oil refining and repeated attacks on infrastructure are leading to a growing petrol shortage, which is affecting the lives of millions of Russians across the country. Securing fuel is becoming more difficult, and temporary restrictions at petrol stations are becoming the norm in the affected regions.
