Russians are getting into fights at gas stations over gasoline
The fuel crisis in Russia is worsening: gasoline shortages have already been reported in at least 16 regions. Long lines are forming at gas stations, drivers are being limited in the amount they can purchase, and in Volgograd, several fights broke out among drivers amid the shortage.
Videos of conflicts at Russian gas stations have begun circulating on social media. In particular, several such videos have emerged from Volgograd. Three different videos show altercations right next to the fuel pumps and cars. People are shoving, arguing, and fighting.
However, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of each conflict from the videos alone. However, the footage emerged just as problems with gasoline availability resurfaced in the region. Due to long lines and rationing, drivers are forced to spend more time searching for a gas station that’s open. Under such conditions, any conflict between motorists can quickly escalate into a fight.
Gasoline Sales Are Subject to Restrictions
Fuel shortages are not limited to the Volgograd region. This week, at least 16 regions across Russia reported a new wave of the fuel crisis. Gasoline shortages and long lines have been reported, in particular, in Moscow, the Krasnodar and Primorsky Krais, as well as in the Voronezh, Rostov, Ryazan, and Saratov regions.
At some gas stations, drivers are subject to limits on the amount of fuel they can purchase at one time. This means that even if gasoline is available, it’s not always possible to fill up a car completely. Some regions are enforcing even stricter rules. Cars are allowed to refuel based on the day of the week: even-numbered days for some drivers, odd-numbered days for others. As a result, drivers have to search for gas stations that still have fuel, wait in lines, and adapt to the new sales rules.
Why Russia Is Facing Gasoline Shortages
A new wave of shortages is unfolding amid attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure. Since early August, Ukrainian drones have attacked a number of Russian oil refineries. In two weeks, 10 of Russia’s 34 major refineries have come under attack.
Due to damage to these facilities, some refineries may temporarily halt operations or reduce production. This is putting additional pressure on the domestic fuel market. As a result, some regions are experiencing disruptions in gasoline supply. And when large numbers of motorists gather simultaneously at operating gas stations, long lines form.
The fuel crisis is spreading to new regions
The situation shows that the gasoline problem in Russia is no longer localized. Whereas disruptions previously occurred in isolated regions, reports of restrictions and shortages are now coming from many parts of the country simultaneously. Authorities and gas station chains are trying to curb demand through purchase limits and various sales regulations. However, such measures do not address the underlying problem of fuel availability.
Meanwhile, videos from Volgograd show another consequence of the shortage. When people have to wait a long time for gasoline or search for a working gas station, tensions rise, and a routine argument can escalate into a physical altercation. The scale of this fuel crisis and whether it will spread to new regions of Russia will depend, in particular, on how quickly Russian oil refineries can resume operations. This is reported by “Glavkom.”
Attempts by Russian authorities to establish fuel supplies to the temporarily occupied Crimea are being thwarted by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which continue to destroy fuel trucks and tankers using long-range UAVs, despite efforts to camouflage the cargo and jam Starlink communications.
In the temporarily occupied Crimea, fuel problems could escalate into a much more serious crisis. Due to logistical difficulties on the peninsula, prices have already begun to rise, lines are forming, and residents are increasingly stocking up on essential goods.
The shortage of automotive fuel, previously observed in the temporarily occupied Crimea, has begun to spread to the southern regions of the Russian Federation. Residents of the Krasnodar Krai and the Rostov Oblast are reporting shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel.
