Fuel Shortage Grips Moscow After Drone Strikes: Lines Form and Prices Jump 30%.

Supply Disruptions Hit the Moscow Region

According to UATV: Fuel supply disruptions have become severe in the Moscow region, triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries. These strikes have led to long queues at gas stations, the introduction of fuel sales restrictions, and a roughly 30% surge in the cost of gasoline and diesel.

In Moscow, lines for gasoline are now common, highlighting worsening access to fuel. Some stations have imposed limits on how much fuel drivers can buy, compounding the difficulties. Since the start of the year, Ukrainian drones have struck Russian oil processing plants at least 40 times, significantly undermining the stability of fuel supplies.

Recent Strikes and Their Fallout

One of the latest attacks targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery on June 16. A follow-up strike on June 18 rendered the facility inoperable. This plant had been supplying up to 40% of Moscow’s gasoline needs. Given that the capital is home to roughly 14% of all vehicles in Russia, the situation has become even more critical.

Road freight transport in Moscow accounts for about 19% of the national total, while passenger transport makes up 40%. These circumstances suggest that access to fuel in the region will likely deteriorate further.

The fuel supply crisis in the Moscow region underscores the vulnerability of Russian infrastructure amid the ongoing armed conflict, as well as the potential for additional destabilizing pressures within the country. Rising fuel prices could have a major impact on the regional economy, especially since Moscow serves as one of Russia’s key transportation hubs. Analysts predict that these supply problems may affect multiple economic sectors, particularly road transport, which in turn could drive up the cost of goods and services across the region.