Ukraine strikes deepen Russian fuel shortages as Sevastopol gasoline jumps 30%
Drone attacks on refineries and supply lines have taken about 28% of Russian refining capacity offline, pushing shortage-hit regions such as Crimea to among Europe’s highest pump prices.
Ukraine’s expanding drone and missile campaign against Russian refineries and supply lines is worsening fuel shortages across Russia and Russian-controlled Crimea, with Rosstat reporting a 30% weekly jump in gasoline prices in Sevastopol. Sergey Vakulenko, a former Gazprom Neft strategy executive now at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, estimated that 28% of Russia’s refining capacity was offline as of June 20, arguing the problem has shifted from logistics to a physical lack of fuel. In shortage-hit regions, Reuters observed gasoline prices as high as $2.42 per litre, or about $9 per gallon, while local authorities in Crimea suspended fuel sales to private motorists and cut operating hours for public transport and cafes. President Vladimir Putin said Ukrainian drone strikes had caused shortages in various Russian regions, and the Russian central bank said it would consider rising fuel prices and secondary effects at upcoming rate-setting meetings.
- refining capacity: The amount of crude oil processing capability available at refineries to produce fuels such as gasoline and diesel.
- AI-95 gasoline: A commonly used gasoline grade in Russia.
- rate-setting meetings: Central bank meetings that decide interest rates.