Dictator Putin has not acknowledged the fuel crisis in Russia
Russian dictator Vova Putin called the fuel crisis in the country “inconveniences” and shifted the blame onto the government.
“Yes, not all issues have been resolved yet, but they are being resolved… A special commission has been created,” Putin said in an interview with propagandist Pavel Zarubin.
At the same time, Putin made it clear that he does not consider the gasoline shortage, which has affected more than 70% of Russia’s gas stations, to be a major problem.
“Yes, of course, there are certain inconveniences for people, but the government, of course, must keep this under control,” Putin emphasized.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that the authorities are observing a “second phase of tension” in the country’s fuel market. According to the BenZinMap portal, which compiles information on the situation based on media reports, as of August 23, 63 out of 85 regions were forced to maintain restrictions on gasoline sales, while 19 experienced localized shortages or price increases.
The fuel crisis in Russia has intensified following a new series of Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries. In the first half of August, at least nine facilities in the industry—with a combined capacity of 145 million metric tons per year—were targeted, and at least four were shut down. Refining volumes are now one-third below the seasonal norm, according to Rystad estimates.
Prior to this, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out new long-range strikes against military targets on Russian territory and in the Black Sea. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian military struck targets more than 1,300 kilometers from the front lines, targeting oil infrastructure and the Russian navy.
