Story perspectives

Ukraine Drone Strikes Spark Russia-wide Gas Shortages

7/7/2026

Summary

Ukraine Triggers Shortages

Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian energy sites have triggered nationwide gasoline shortages.
On July 3, Novorossiysk’s Municipal Management Centre said all public pumps lacked gasoline.
Authorities limited fuel to 15 liters per vehicle in Zabaykalsky Krai and 30 liters in Kaliningrad.
The Moscow Times said June crude processing fell 25 % to 3.91 million barrels per day, while gasoline output dropped 17 % to 850,000 barrels per day.

Summary

Ukraine Hits Refineries

Ukrainian drone strikes disabled more than 30% of Russia’s oil-refining capacity from January through June.
The campaign hit the Kirishinefteorgsintez, Ryazan and Lukoil’s Nizhny Novgorod refineries.
Military analysts warned that sustained strikes could create longer-term logistical and economic challenges for Russia’s war effort.
President Vladimir Putin called the fuel shortages “not critical” and said the Kremlin expects the disruptions will not erode public support or weaken military operations.

Summary

Russia Imports Gasoline

Russia will import gasoline, the first large-scale imports since the 1990s.
The government is considering a ban on diesel exports to protect domestic fuel.
Regulators permitted sales of lower-grade Euro 3 gasoline through year-end.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is drawing on state fuel reserves.
President Vladimir Putin reported gasoline reserves of 1.7 million metric tons, down 4 % year-on-year but near last year’s level.

Summary

Russia Subsidizes Refineries

Russia paid 210.6 billion rubles ($2.72 billion) in subsidies to oil refiners in June, the largest since December 2023.
Finance Ministry said the payments close the domestic-export price gap, prompting firms to keep more fuel at home and to curb inflation before the September 2026 parliamentary elections.
Subsidies continued despite a ban on most gasoline exports through July 2026, while June net oil-gas revenues rose 38% YoY to 683 billion rubles and oil taxes reached 84%.

History

Historical Context

In August 1998 Russia defaulted, devalued the ruble from about 6.4 to over 21 per dollar and, after a fuel shortage, imported gasoline after decades while the finance ministry spent 150 billion rubles on subsidies and Gazprom output fell 30 %. The same vulnerability resurfaced in 2024 when Ukrainian drone strikes crippled Lukoil, Ryazan and Nizhny Novgorod refineries, prompting Putin’s government to repeat gasoline imports and subsidies.

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Ukraine Triggers Shortages

Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian energy sites have triggered nationwide gasoline shortages.
On July 3, Novorossiysk’s Municipal Management Centre said all public pumps lacked gasoline.
Authorities limited fuel to 15 liters per vehicle in Zabaykalsky Krai and 30 liters in Kaliningrad.
The Moscow Times said June crude processing fell 25 % to 3.91 million barrels per day, while gasoline output dropped 17 % to 850,000 barrels per day.

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