Fuel Rationing Hits Moscow and the Far North as Drone Strikes Bite

Petrol stations across Moscow and northern Russian regions have begun capping how much fuel drivers can buy a direct fallout from months of Ukrainian drone strikes hammering Russia’s oil refineries.

The Pump Limits Are Real And Spreading Fast

Russia’s fuel crunch is no longer a distant rumour. Petrol stations in Moscow and several northern regions have started putting hard caps on how much fuel each driver can purchase. The move follows months of relentless Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries attacks that have badly dented the country’s refining capacity.

Lukoil stations in Moscow and its surrounding region have reportedly capped petrol sales at 100 litres roughly 26 gallons per driver. Gazprom’s stations are also restricting customers to between 100 and 150 litres for both regular petrol and diesel.

Not About Running Dry But About Stopping Panic

Industry insiders suggest these limits are less about an actual fuel emergency and more about preventing panic buying. Most private car fuel tanks hold well under 100 litres so the caps seem designed to stop bulk hoarding rather than address a genuine scarcity.

ORTK which runs 36 stations across Moscow and the surrounding region cut its petrol limit to just 60 litres per driver and diesel to 100 litres, effective from Saturday. The chain told local media the restrictions will stay “until further notice.”

“We aren’t the only ones doing this,” a company spokesperson stated.

Moscow’s Neighbours Feel the Squeeze Too

General Fueller, another station chain, rolled out strict 20-litre purchase limits across all 23 of its locations covering Moscow, the Moscow region, and the nearby Tver and Yaroslavl regions starting Monday.

In St. Petersburg, drivers found themselves facing limits ranging from 50 to 95 litres per visit. Local industry experts pointed to “supply chain disruptions” as the core reason behind the rationing measures there.

The republic of Karelia, bordering Finland, also saw 20-litre-per-driver limits introduced. Drivers returning from the neighbouring Murmansk region reported long queues snaking outside petrol stations.

Prices Climb Too But Not Uniformly

The western exclave of Kaliningrad has seen petrol prices jump by nearly 4 roubles reaching 69.9 roubles per litre, or roughly $3.6 per gallon over the past two months. Some Ural Mountain regions and parts of Moscow saw smaller price increases of under one rouble.

Government officials are reportedly weighing a price hike of 1.5 roubles per litre on petrol, diesel, and jet fuel with the revenue earmarked to finance air defence systems protecting oil refineries from further drone strikes.

Crimea Hit Hardest Voucher System Breaks Down

Annexed Crimea has faced some of the toughest rationing of all. Kremlin-backed authorities there introduced strict caps and a fuel voucher system in late May. One of the peninsula’s biggest petrol chains then temporarily halted voucher distribution on Monday with local officials claiming the system would resume by Wednesday afternoon.

In the Belgorod region of southwestern Russia already battered by cross-border activity the regional economic development minister defended a ban on filling portable containers with AI-92 petrol at Rosneft stations, calling it a “safety measure.”

Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Is Working At Least at the Pump

Ukraine has dramatically escalated its drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure aiming to choke off Kremlin revenues from high oil prices. The strikes have halted or significantly curtailed production at refineries accounting for roughly one-quarter of Russia’s total refining capacity and over 30% of its petrol output.

The Kremlin acknowledged last month that petrol production had dipped “in some areas” but publicly insisted it saw “no risks” of nationwide shortages. Russia’s Energy Ministry maintains that the domestic petrol market remains “stable and under control.”

A total export ban on petrol remains in effect across Russia through July 31 a measure aimed at keeping domestic supply steady and prices from spiralling further.