Russia Faces Fresh Petrol Shortages as Ukrainian Strikes Disrupt Oil Refineries

Russia is facing renewed pressure on its domestic fuel supply after a series of Ukrainian attacks damaged oil-processing facilities and forced at least one major refinery to halt operations.

Russian authorities acknowledged on 14 August that petrol supply problems had emerged in several regions, while oil companies were instructed to increase deliveries to areas experiencing the greatest shortages.

The latest disruption highlights the growing economic impact of Ukraine’s campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, with refineries increasingly becoming targets in the wider war.

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Fuel shortages spread across Russian regions

Russia’s government said the situation remained difficult at some petrol stations and that measures were being taken to stabilise supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has ordered officials to monitor fuel prices and coordinate additional deliveries, according to Russian authorities.

The problems are not limited to a single area. Regional officials have reported restrictions on fuel sales and reduced availability at petrol stations, adding pressure on motorists, businesses and local transport services.

Krasnodar has been among the regions affected, with authorities warning that some oil companies have reduced deliveries and limited the operating hours of certain petrol stations.

Orsk refinery forced to shut down

One of the most significant developments came in Russia’s Orenburg region, where the Orsk oil refinery was forced to stop processing following a Ukrainian drone attack.

The facility, which has an annual processing capacity of around 5.7 million tonnes, produces petrol, diesel and other petroleum products. Reuters reported that damage to key infrastructure could leave the refinery offline for months, with repairs potentially taking up to six months.

The shutdown is particularly important for the surrounding region because the refinery is a major source of refined fuel.

Local authorities have already warned of supply difficulties and have taken steps to manage the availability of petrol at service stations.

Ukraine targets Russia’s energy infrastructure

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities with long-range drones.

Kyiv has described the strategy as a way of putting economic pressure on Russia by disrupting one of the country’s most important sources of revenue.

The attacks have reached facilities hundreds and, in some cases, more than a thousand kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Recent strikes have affected refineries including Orsk and the large Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex in Bashkortostan.

The campaign creates a difficult problem for Moscow because damage to refining capacity can affect domestic petrol supplies even when crude oil production itself continues.

Why refinery attacks matter

Russia is one of the world’s major oil producers, but crude oil must be processed into products such as petrol and diesel before it can be widely used by motorists and businesses.

When refineries are damaged or temporarily closed, fuel has to be transported from other facilities or imported from elsewhere.

That can increase transportation costs and create regional shortages, particularly when several refineries experience disruptions at the same time.

The impact can also spread beyond petrol stations. Agriculture, freight transport, construction and other industries depend heavily on reliable diesel and petrol supplies.

Russia has already taken emergency measures

The latest shortages come after Moscow introduced a series of measures aimed at protecting the domestic fuel market.

Russia previously restricted fuel exports in response to supply pressures, while officials have repeatedly discussed increasing domestic deliveries and repairing damaged refinery infrastructure.

Earlier in the summer, Moscow also introduced restrictions on diesel exports as officials attempted to ensure adequate domestic supplies.

These measures demonstrate how refinery disruptions are increasingly affecting Russia’s energy policy.

Pressure on motorists and businesses

For ordinary Russians, the effects are most visible at petrol stations.

In some areas, drivers have faced limits on the amount of fuel they can purchase, while other stations have experienced reduced opening hours or temporary shortages.

Such restrictions can become especially problematic during the summer travel season, when demand for petrol typically increases.

Businesses that rely on road transport can also face higher operating costs if fuel becomes more expensive or difficult to obtain.

A growing challenge for the Kremlin

The fuel situation presents Moscow with a difficult balancing act.

The government needs to maintain affordable fuel supplies for consumers while keeping Russia’s wider energy industry functioning and supporting the economy during wartime.

Repeated attacks on refineries could make that task more difficult if repairs take longer than expected or if multiple facilities are forced offline simultaneously.

The Orsk shutdown is particularly significant because repair work may be complicated by restrictions on access to some foreign equipment and technology.

What could happen next?

The immediate priority for Russian authorities will be to move additional fuel supplies into the regions experiencing shortages and prevent the situation from spreading.

Moscow is also likely to continue monitoring prices, restricting exports when necessary and prioritising fuel deliveries for essential services.

However, the longer-term situation will depend heavily on the condition of Russia’s refining network and the frequency of further Ukrainian attacks.

If more major refineries are damaged, Russia could face additional pressure on petrol and diesel availability, potentially increasing costs for consumers and businesses.

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Ukraine’s long-range strategy

For Ukraine, attacks on Russian energy infrastructure represent an attempt to increase the economic cost of the war.

Rather than focusing exclusively on military targets near the front, Kyiv has increasingly demonstrated an ability to reach strategically important facilities deep inside Russia.

The consequences are now becoming visible in the domestic fuel market, although the overall effect on Russia’s economy and military capacity remains difficult to measure.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to maintain that its fuel system can be stabilised through additional supplies, repairs and government intervention.

Russia’s fuel problem is becoming harder to ignore

The renewed petrol shortages are another sign of how the war is increasingly affecting Russia’s domestic economy.

With the Orsk refinery expected to remain out of service for an extended period and further attacks threatening other energy facilities, Moscow faces continued pressure to keep petrol and diesel flowing across the country.

For Russian motorists, the most immediate concern is simple: whether fuel will remain available at reasonable prices.

For the Kremlin, however, the bigger challenge is protecting a strategically important energy industry while continuing to support the country’s war effort.