Russia Curtails Diesel Exports as Drone Attacks Hit Oil Refineries

Russia has announced a partial ban on diesel fuel exports and the extension of the current ban on gasoline exports until the end of 2025 amid fuel shortages caused by recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters.

According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the partial ban on diesel fuel will affect resellers but not producers, while the ban on gasoline applies to both producers and resellers. At the same time, Russia's intergovernmental agreements with some countries, such as Mongolia, are not subject to restrictions.

The shortage of petroleum products in the regions was caused by increased attacks by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries.

For example, Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) recently conducted a second drone strike in a week on the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat refinery in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, one of the country’s largest facilities producing gasoline, diesel, and petrochemical products. The attack caused a significant fire, with thick smoke reported, and followed a previous strike on September 18. 

Ukrainian sources emphasized that these precise strikes target facilities funding Russia’s war against Ukraine, contributing to fuel shortages across 20 Russian regions and parts of occupied Ukrainian territory.

Meanwhile, on September 24, all brands of gasoline, including the most expensive A100, completely disappeared from gas stations in annexed Crimea. Many gas stations are closing to avoid paying salaries to employees, which has caused a real gasoline collapse on the peninsula.

According to a local human rights activist, the fuel shortage has affected both ordinary residents and businesses. State organizations receive gasoline coupons, albeit in minimal amounts, while private companies and businesses suffer significant losses due to limited transportation options.

There are noticeably fewer cars on the roads, minibuses are overcrowded, and local residents openly express their outrage, accusing the Kremlin leadership of failing to ensure a normal fuel supply.

As The Gaze reported earlier, after a series of targeted attacks by Ukrainian drones, the gasoline shortage in Russia, which was initially observed only in some remote regions, began to spread rapidly, covering more and more areas and significantly complicating fuel supplies.