Ukrainian Strikes Spark Deepening Fuel Crisis, Rationing Across Russia

Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered a deepening fuel crisis across Russia, with restrictions on gasoline purchases now imposed in 53 regions and motorists facing long queues and rationing, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The Moscow Oil Refinery has been struck twice in a single week . The attacks have knocked out an estimated 20 per cent of Russia's oil refining capacity, the International Energy Agency said, calling the disruption "unprecedented in the history of the Russia-Ukraine conflict".

Moscow refinery hit twice in one week

Ukraine struck the Moscow refinery on June 16 and again on June 18, in what may have been the biggest attack on the Russian capital since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 . Video footage showed multiple fireballs and black smoke over the facility in Kapotnya district, which produces more than one-third of the fuel supply for Moscow and the surrounding region. According to industry sources cited by Reuters, the June 18 strike damaged the Euro+ crude oil processing complex, commissioned in 2020 as part of the refinery's modernisation program. The unit includes a crude distillation section with a nominal capacity of around 140,000 barrels per day, approximately 47% of the refinery's total processing capacity . An earlier strike on June 16 had already damaged another major crude distillation unit responsible for roughly 53% of the refinery's processing capacity . Satellite imagery published by Exilenova+ shows a heavily damaged storage tank with its roof blown off, as well as visible traces of firefighting activity across multiple key processing areas.

Fuel rationing spreads across Russia

Restrictions on fuel purchases have spread to 53 regions of Russia and occupied territory, according to independent Russian outlet The Bell . Drivers are often limited to no more than a single tank's worth of fuel to prevent stockpiling. In 18 regions, motorists may purchase no more than 50 litres or one full tank of petrol per customer. Oil producer Tatneft has imposed nationwide caps at its hundreds of stations, with one location south of Moscow limiting sales to 20 litres of gasoline per car. In Crimea, the situation is particularly acute. Ukrainian forces have struck fuel tankers and trucks transporting fuel to the peninsula, triggering rationing as early as late May . Motorists have reported waiting up to three hours to refuel . Local authorities have imposed a QR code rationing system that drivers must present to receive their allotted fuel quota.

A strategic shift in the war

"The Ukrainian attacks that are forcing Russia to ration its fuel" have demonstrated Kyiv's ability to reach targets hundreds of kilometres inside Russian territory, according to the Wall Street Journal . The strikes have forced the full or partial shutdown of numerous facilities, temporarily idling more than 20 per cent of Russia's primary refining capacity. Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister, said the strikes have grown more effective because Ukraine has targeted Russia's largest and most modern refineries, which use hard-to-replace Western equipment. "These 10 to 15 oil refineries are a very narrow and vulnerable target. Simply put, attacking them would trigger a crisis," Milov said. Following the strikes, Russian Railways established a special task force to ensure "uninterrupted supply" of fuel to regions. The Russian government has also banned jet fuel exports and extended provisions allowing refineries to sell domestically-produced fuel that does not meet Euro-5 quality standards. Despite the growing crisis, Russian state television has downplayed the shortages, with one prominent pro-Kremlin host dismissing Russians who post images of empty gas stations as "hysterics" . Moscow has introduced fines for publishing images of the effects of Ukrainian strikes.