A Gasoline Shortage Has Emerged In The Krasnodar Krai And The Rostov Oblast
- 8.06.2026, 21:37
The fuel crisis in Russia is intensifying.
The fuel crisis in Crimea has begun to spread to neighboring regions. Authorities in the Krasnodar Krai have reported a gasoline shortage at gas stations that purchase fuel in small wholesale quantities without long-term contracts with suppliers. The operational headquarters specified that there are more than 500 such gas stations in the region, and some of them currently have no fuel. Authorities also noted instances where “gasoline was unavailable at several chain gas stations: it hadn’t been delivered in time due to a sharp increase in demand.” Officials assure that the problems are temporary and that major chains are currently adjusting delivery schedules to their gas stations, reports The Moscow Times.
Authorities in the Rostov Region have also warned of the risk of fuel shortages. Igor Sorokin, Deputy Governor for Industry and Energy, stated that major chains are currently operating normally, but “local difficulties are possible at small gas stations.” Among the reasons, he cited a decline in production volumes at a number of oil refineries due to “unscheduled repairs” and high traffic on the Russian Railways network. Sorokin added that the authorities are taking measures to prevent a fuel shortage.
Demand for gasoline and diesel in the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Krai traditionally rises in the summer due to the vacation season, increased traffic toward the Black Sea coast and the occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as due to active agricultural work.
Since late May, a fuel shortage has emerged in the annexed Crimea. Initially, the “authorities” imposed limits on gasoline sales—no more than 20 liters per person—as well as a coupon system. However, the situation continued to deteriorate. As a result, on June 4, the free sale of gasoline for cash was completely suspended on the peninsula. You can still buy no more than 20 liters of fuel using previously purchased coupons. Officials are stationed at gas stations, recording vehicle license plate numbers.
In Sevastopol, after the restrictions failed to yield results, the “authorities” launched fuel sales via Max on June 6. A single QR code generated in the state messenger app entitles the user to a one-time refueling of 20 liters of gasoline at the “TES” network between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on the current day. However, another code for the same vehicle can only be obtained after seven days. As early as the night of June 7, at 01:47 Moscow time, “Governor” Mikhail Razvozzhayev announced that QR codes for that day had run out.
The fuel crisis was caused by Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes on oil refining infrastructure and logistics. Ukrainian drones have effectively taken control of the R-280 “Novorossiya” federal highway—the “land corridor” to Crimea running from Rostov-on-Don. According to Bloomberg, Russian refineries were attacked 38 times between January and May 2026, with 16 plants hit in May—the highest number since the war began. As a result, oil refining volumes in Russia fell to their lowest level since 2009.