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Fuel availability drops to 28% as Moscow queues grow

8/22/2026

39 9 Full Breakdown

Center

Russia Faces Fuel Shortage

On Wednesday, fewer than three in ten Russian petrol stations had fuel, causing long queues at Moscow pumps.
The shortage is linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, prompting the Kremlin to impose price controls and temporarily approve lower-grade fuel.
Gdebenz app showed 28% availability, down from 41%, as rail imports rose 25-fold year-on-year.
Caps and QR rationing remain, price rising 7.4% to 70 roubles, prompting 41 antitrust cases.

Left

Russian Authorities Limit Fuel

On Wednesday, petrol was available at fewer than three in ten Russian stations, leading to long queues at Moscow pumps.
Police arrested and fined citizens who publicly complained about the shortages, labeling their gatherings illegal.
Moscow reinstated purchase limits of 50 to 60 litres per vehicle daily.
Motorists reported waiting up to 30 hours at forecourts before pumps ran empty.

History

Historical Context

On 17 August 1998 the Russian government and central bank devalued the ruble, defaulted on debt and declared a moratorium, triggering economic turmoil as the currency fell from 6.43 to over 21 rubles per dollar. A similar shock occurred in 2014-2017 when oil-price collapse and sanctions drove another crisis. Today’s refinery disruptions echo those past vulnerabilities.

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Russia Faces Fuel Shortage

On Wednesday, fewer than three in ten Russian petrol stations had fuel, causing long queues at Moscow pumps.
The shortage is linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, prompting the Kremlin to impose price controls and temporarily approve lower-grade fuel.
Gdebenz app showed 28% availability, down from 41%, as rail imports rose 25-fold year-on-year.
Caps and QR rationing remain, price rising 7.4% to 70 roubles, prompting 41 antitrust cases.

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