SerpApi.Org
Governors in Russian regions, from the Black Sea coast to Siberia, have begun reporting fuel availability, shorter lines at gas stations and stable supplies, though sales restrictions remain in place in most regions.
The cautious optimism follows weeks of disruption, after unprecedented Ukrainian strikes on refineries caused a record drop in Russia's crude oil processing levels, driving sharp fuel price increases and forcing Russian authorities to ban gasoline and diesel exports.
Bloomberg noted it cannot independently verify the accuracy of local Russian officials' optimistic statements, though several relevant apps and Telegram channels also report gasoline and diesel availability at gas stations.
According to the crowdsourced tracking service gdebenz.ru, as of July 22, at least one type of fuel was available at 54% of gas stations in Moscow and 61% in St. Petersburg. The situation differed in major Siberian cities such as Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk, where at least one fuel type was available at only about a fifth of gas stations.
While Russian fuel production is showing some recovery, EA Analytics estimates Russia's average crude oil processing rate for July will be 3.511 million barrels per day — the lowest level since May 2002. That would mean continued fuel shortages and rising prices, Bloomberg predicts.
Read also: Russia reroutes fuel from Siberia to Moscow
At the same time, several major refineries damaged by drones have gained time to recover as Kyiv has focused its strikes on vessels in the Black and Azov seas, according to the report.
Ben Barry, a researcher at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Ukraine is broadening its target set and rotating between them to "keep the enemy guessing" about what will be struck next. This strategy complicates Russia's ability to position air defenses and intercept drones and missiles, Barry noted.
In the first half of 2026, Ukraine's Defense Forces intensified strikes on Russian territory and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, including refineries and logistics facilities, knocking out about 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity. This deepened a fuel crisis in many Russian regions, as well as in occupied Crimea, where [local authorities imposed strict restrictions and lines formed at gas stations.
Amid the fuel shortages, Putin's approval rating in Russia fell by a record 5 percentage points in July, to 66% — its lowest level in nearly four years, since fall 2022.
Read also: Russia using budget to ease oil firms' losses from Ukrainian strikes
Putin acknowledged "temporary difficulties" in the fuel market on July 22 but said Russia's economy remains "resilient" despite Ukrainian strikes on refineries and Wildberries logistics centers.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Business
Author: Богуслав Романенко
