Russian Fuel Supply Stabilizes Amid Ongoing Damage to Oil Industry
Russia's fuel supply situation has shown signs of stabilization after a challenging period. Long queues at gas stations have largely disappeared in Moscow and are significantly shorter elsewhere, according to observations on Russian social networks.
However, it appears that Russia is compensating for the shortage by importing fuel from countries like Belarus and redistributing supplies from other regions. Additionally, decreased domestic travel due to Ukrainian strikes has reduced fuel consumption.
The situation may seem stable, but it's not entirely. The Russian government has lowered gasoline quality to older standards that are detrimental to modern vehicles. Furthermore, they are transporting fuel from distant regions to prioritize Moscow and St. Petersburg, the only two regions with significant political influence over the Kremlin.
According to The Moscow Times, only 8 of the 26 oil refineries damaged by Ukrainian drones have been fully restored. Eleven facilities have partially resumed operations, while seven remain non-functional. These refineries used to produce a substantial amount of fuel, which is now being diverted or rationed.