MOSCOW FUEL STATIONS LIMIT SALES AFTER UKRAINIAN REFINERY STRIKES

Developing story: Fuel caps, refinery status, government export rules and regional shortages may change as Russian authorities and companies adjust supply.

Fuel stations in Moscow have reimposed limits on gasoline sales as shortages linked to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and seasonal demand spread into the capital region, Reuters reported Wednesday. The restrictions show how Kyiv’s long-range strike campaign is translating into domestic economic inconvenience inside Russia, far from the front line.

Reuters reported that Gazprom Neft capped gasoline sales at 40 liters per customer at automated stations and 60 liters at regular stations, while diesel remained largely unrestricted except at automated sites. Rosneft limited gasoline sales to 30 liters per vehicle nationwide, and Tatneft set a 50-liter cap. Lukoil also introduced restrictions in Moscow and nearby regions, citing high demand and unplanned refinery maintenance.

The Moscow restrictions are significant because earlier shortages had been most visible in regions outside the capital. When fuel limits reach Moscow, the political visibility of the problem increases. The Kremlin has tried to frame the war as distant from ordinary life in Russia’s major cities, but fuel queues and rationing make the consequences more direct.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian refineries, depots and energy logistics with drones. Kyiv says the strikes are designed to reduce Russia’s capacity to finance and wage war. Moscow describes them as attacks on civilian infrastructure and has used them to justify further missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy systems.

The fuel problem has been building for months. Reuters reported that shortages accelerated in May and spread across much of Russia by July. The government has responded by banning fuel exports, relaxing quality standards and importing petroleum products in an effort to stabilize domestic supply.

Fuel shortages can become politically sensitive even if the military remains supplied. Civilian rationing affects commuters, truckers, farmers, small businesses and regional supply chains. Longer waits and limits at stations can also undermine official claims that the economy is absorbing wartime pressure without major disruption.

The shortage intersects with a broader Russian energy squeeze. Reuters separately reported that oil exports from Russia’s western ports have fallen below plan in August because of disruptions at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. That means Moscow is facing pressure both in domestic fuel distribution and export logistics.

What is confirmed is that major fuel companies introduced or maintained gasoline limits in Moscow and nearby areas after refinery disruptions and demand pressure. What remains unresolved is how long restrictions will last, whether Moscow prioritizes military or civilian supply, and whether Ukraine’s energy-strike campaign will deepen shortages before winter.

Fact-check date: August 19, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters. Developing note: Fuel caps, refinery status, government export rules and regional shortages may change as Russian authorities and companies adjust supply.