Fuel Shortage Spreads Across Over 40 Russian Regions as Moscow Hides Gasoline Prices from Public Data.

Russia’s Fuel Crisis Worsens

According to Espreso.tv: In response to a deepening shortage of gasoline and diesel, the Russian government decided on June 25, 2023, to remove fuel price data from the official reports published by Rosstat, the state statistics agency. This move comes as more than 40 regions across the country are grappling with fuel scarcity. Between June 16 and June 22, 2023, gasoline prices rose by 3%, while diesel increased by 2.7%. The shortage is not limited to mainland Russia; it also affects the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula. Several regions have already imposed restrictions on fuel sales to manage the crisis.

The situation has drawn attention to broader economic strains. On June 18, 2023, reports revealed that Russia’s military spending is set to rise by 40% compared to the 2026 budget plan. The country’s budget deficit for the first four months of 2026 has already reached 5.9 trillion rubles. Compounding the problem, gasoline production in June 2023 dropped by 25% year-on-year.

Economic Fallout and Leadership Response

Russian leaders have acknowledged the severity of the fuel crisis. President Vladimir Putin admitted the issue and floated the possibility of a complete ban on diesel exports. Meanwhile, German Gref, head of Sberbank, warned that:

“The Russian economy is already in a state of overheating.”