Russia Expands Fuel Sales Limits Across Regions Amid Drone Attacks on Refineries

Russia has intensified restrictions on retail fuel sales across multiple regions following a deepening fuel crisis linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and depots. Starting June 23, Lukoil stations in the Voronezh region imposed limits of 30 liters of gasoline and 60 liters of diesel per vehicle in urban areas, with highway limits set at 60 liters of gasoline and 200 liters of diesel. Similar caps have been announced in the Omsk, Irkutsk, Saratov, Amur, Tambov, Lipetsk, Tula, Tver, and Vladimir regions, as governors cited the need to prevent artificial panic and speculation.

The Russian publication The Bell reported that as of mid-June, temporary fuel sale restrictions are in place in 53 Russian regions, including annexed territories in Ukraine. In May, Russian crude oil output fell to a yearly low after a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks targeted refineries and storage facilities across central Russia, forcing many major oil infrastructure sites to reduce or suspend operations.

Authorities claim that sufficient fuel supplies remain at federal network stations, attributing localized shortages to logistical difficulties and surging demand. The Federal Antimonopoly Service is monitoring price fluctuations and has opened cases against some companies, citing rising exchange-traded fuel costs as the main driver of higher pump prices.

Governors of affected regions have acknowledged the severity of the crisis. Irkutsk region governor Igor Kobzev admitted that authorities are forced to "switch to manual control mode," as some stations have halted fuel sales entirely. Saratov governor Roman Busargin introduced a week-long limit of 30 liters per vehicle from June 23 to 30.