Russia petrol shortages: queues and patchy supplies from Crimea to the Volga

Russia petrol shortages are forcing drivers to queue for long periods and search between stations for fuel, with problems reported from Crimea to the Volga region.

In Sevastopol, motorists formed a long line outside a petrol station as supplies tightened. Alexander Semin said he had waited around 40 minutes the previous day to fill up his car but added that he was “not panicking.”

Officials link the disruption to recent strikes on oil facilities and export terminals. As attacks have intensified in recent weeks, Russia petrol shortages have appeared in more than 10 regions, according to industry groups cited by local media.

Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Crimea, acknowledged the problem in a video message and said petrol stations would be fully supplied with all grades within two weeks. “People want certainty,” said one driver in the city. “We are just hoping the queues ease.”

Hundreds of kilometres north in Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga, drivers faced similar patchiness. A taxi driver who gave his name as Alexei said: “At both gas stations, there was no 92 or 95 petrol. Later it appeared and then disappeared again.” The regional governor said the issues were linked to supply chain problems and would be resolved soon.

Some motorists are switching routines to cope with the Russia petrol shortages, including travelling earlier in the morning or sharing journeys. In Crimea, driver Alexei Zlobin tried to make light of it: “If you are having trouble with petrol, just take a trolley,” he said.

For wider context on how refinery outages ripple through fuel supply, see this latest oil market overview

For more stories on London’s business, finance and the wider energy picture, follow EyeOnLondon for informed and independent reporting.

Follow us on:

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!

We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!