Moscow Gas Stations Impose Fuel Limits as Russian Shortage Deepens

Several major gas station chains in Moscow have introduced fuel limits. Gazprom Neft is selling up to 40 liters per vehicle, while Tatneft has set limits of 50 liters for gasoline and 60 liters for diesel. AI-95 gasoline is especially hard to find. Prices have climbed as high as 120 rubles ($1.50) per liter, but the fuel has disappeared from many stations operated by Gazprom, Rosneft, NefteMagistral, Teboil and other chains.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. On the evening of Aug. 18, AI-95 was available at just one NefteMagistral station in Moscow, according to RBC. The shortages are spreading beyond the capital. Russian energy officials have discussed fuel supplies in at least 10 regions, including Orenburg, Lipetsk, Tver, Krasnodar, Primorsky and Krasnoyarsk. Some authorities have brought back or tightened limits on fuel sales. The Kremlin is trying to protect Moscow from the worst of the shortage by redirecting gasoline from eastern Russia to the capital, Reuters reported. But the move is putting more pressure on other regions, where a second wave of fuel shortages is already being reported. The problem is being made worse by Russia’s damaged refining capacity. S&P Global says at least 26 Russian refineries were shut down, with seven still offline at the end of July. Four more were shut down in August. Russian oil refining fell to about 3.6 million barrels per day, according to EA Analytics – the lowest level since May 2002. Output later recovered to just above 4 million barrels per day but remained about 30% below the seasonal average, Rystad analysts said. Other Topics of Interest Major Explosives Plant Hit Again as Ukrainian Drones Strike Across Russia Overnight Drones also targeted industrial sites in Ufa and Tula, while Moscow said air defenses downed at least 25 UAVs approaching the capital. The squeeze is also showing up in wholesale markets. Gasoline sales on Russia’s St. Petersburg exchange have fallen by about 20% since the start of August compared with the second half of July. And the worst may be yet to come. Sources cited by Kommersant said Russia’s fuel crisis could hit another peak in early September, when Belarus’ Novopolotsk refinery is scheduled for maintenance. Several major Russian refineries are also expected to undergo maintenance around the same time. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.