Authorities in the Tver region said on June 19 that restrictions had been introduced on gasoline sales at filling stations operated by Surgutneftegaz and Tatneft. The regional Industry and Trade Ministry said corporate clients were exempt from the limits.
The next day, the ministry said it had held talks with the management of all fuel station chains. According to the ministry, fuel is now being sold at all stations, although some locations are experiencing temporary interruptions that officials linked in part to increased consumer demand.
According to Agentstvo, social media users reported limits of 20 to 30 liters and also complained about closed Rosneft stations.
Fuel shortages were also acknowledged by Lipetsk region governor Igor Artamonov. He said that during a trip across the region he found interruptions in supplies of certain fuel grades at a number of stations in Yelets, Lipetsk, and nearby districts.
“This creates additional pressure on stations where fuel is available. Queues are forming,” Artamonov said, adding that fuel deliveries are continuing.
The governor urged residents to refuel according to current need, saying that stockpiling gasoline increases pressure on filling stations and depletes available supplies more quickly.
The outlet links Russia’s fuel crisis to intensified Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries, as well as on fuel trucks and cargo vehicles supplying Crimea via the R-280 Novorossiya highway. It says the most severe situation has developed in Crimea, where gasoline began to be distributed by coupons in mid-May and where sales were halted entirely on June 21. Reports of new restrictions have also continued to emerge in central Russia. On June 16, Tatneft introduced sales limits at all of its stations nationwide. The following day, it lifted restrictions on AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel but kept a cap on AI-95 of no more than 30 liters per customer.