Russia’s Energy Ministry has acknowledged that mounting Ukrainian drone attacks on the country’s oil refineries and energy infrastructure are to blame for recent shortages of gasoline in annexed Crimea and some parts of southern Russia.
“Recently, fuel and energy sector enterprises have faced an uptick in enemy aerial attacks, leading to temporary difficulties with fuel supplies in several southern regions,” the Energy Ministry said in a statement released late Monday.
Officials said they have set up an “industry-wide task force” meant to ensure the “stable and efficient operation of the country’s entire energy sector.”
Ukraine began ramping up its attacks against Russian oil refineries and supply lines this spring in a bid to deprive the Kremlin of windfalls from surging oil prices. Drone strikes have halted or scaled back production at facilities that account for large shares of Russia’s gasoline output.
In addition to attacking Russian refineries, Ukraine is targeting fuel trucks driving along the R-280 Novorossiya highway, which connects annexed Crimea to southern Russia’s Rostov region.
Last month, Russia’s Energy Ministry sought to assure the public that the domestic gasoline market remained “stable and under control” despite the gradual introduction of fuel rationing measures in annexed Crimea.
Crimea and at least 14 Russian regions have since introduced various rationing measures at local gas stations. Beyond Crimea, the full scale of the shortages remains unclear, with some local restrictions seeming to target panic-buying and hoarding rather than an immediate, acute supply crunch.
The average price of gasoline in Russia has climbed 4.8% since the start of the year, with a single-week jump pushing national averages to 67.83 rubles per liter as of June 1.
According to the latest weekly data from the federal statistics agency Rosstat, fuel costs rose across 73 regions, led by a 3.2% spike in the republic of Tuva. Diesel prices rose 0.8% week-on-week to a national average of 79.46 rubles per liter.
A ban on gasoline exports remains in force in Russia through July 31 to safeguard local supplies and combat rising prices.
Reuters, citing market sources, reported Monday that the shortages have forced Russia to cut June crude exports and redirect that supply into domestic refineries for gasoline production.
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