Russia’s petrol crisis deepens as war hits home

At a petrol station in south-east Moscow, Svyatoslav has spent two hours trapped in a queue. The sign ahead has just been changed to say there is no fuel — yet he refuses to leave because he does not have enough petrol to reach another station.

Across Moscow and other parts of Russia, drivers are facing increasingly long queues as the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities hits the pumps.

Petrol queues expose a growing wartime strain

Russian officials blame “unscheduled repairs” at oil refineries after repeated Ukrainian attacks disrupted refining capacity. The latest shortages are proving particularly difficult to contain, with one Russian newspaper warning that a “second wave of the fuel crisis is building”.

At one Moscow station, around 80 vehicles were waiting. Drivers describe an increasingly desperate search for fuel, with some stations closing after hours of queuing.

Russia has responded by importing petrol and temporarily allowing the production and sale of lower-grade fuel such as Euro 2 — despite it having been banned in the country since 2013.

Putin insists there is no crisis — but anxiety is rising

The disruption is part of a wider pattern. Ukrainian strikes have also hit industrial and distribution infrastructure, bringing the consequences of the war closer to everyday life.

President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that attacks “do inflict damage”, but insists there are no critical consequences. Critics say that message is increasingly at odds with public experience.

Analyst Andrei Kolesnikov says anxiety is becoming a defining mood, with Russians facing higher prices, fuel shortages and growing fear of drone attacks.

Patriotism holds as the war reshapes daily life

Yet there is little sign of public defiance. At a Russian Flag Day celebration in Moscow, patriotic music, speeches and tricolours filled a square just a short drive from the petrol queues.

Children were also shown military equipment, including hand-held rocket launchers, reflecting the growing militarisation of public life.

“Difficulties unite us,” pensioner Tatyana said. Others spoke of adapting psychologically to uncertainty.

Russia may be running short of petrol. But the Kremlin’s patriotic message is still finding an audience — even as the war steadily pushes its costs into everyday life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gknzgje7go

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by bannork