[91965] The fuel crisis in Russia: shortages, price hikes and attempts to seize the black market

The fuel crisis in Russia: reports of shortages and sharp price hikes

During June 20, 2026, the spread of a fuel crisis in Russia was reported, as residents in dozens of regions reported shortages of 92 and 95-octane gasoline, long queues at gas stations, and the imposition of restrictions on sales volumes. According to The Moscow Times, the problem stems from repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries, which led to a drop of about 25% in gasoline production compared to March.

Effects on the ground and price trends

The consequences are well felt in Moscow and its regions. According to Kommersant data, the rate of fuel price increases in Moscow and the Moscow region has accelerated three to four times in the last week. In the Moscow region, the price of a liter of A-95 gasoline jumped to 76.49 rubles. In cities like Nizhny Novgorod, outrageous prices of up to 119 rubles per liter were reported, as noted in Gulag.

Response of authorities and trading platforms

In response to the creation of a digital "black market," where traders tried to sell fuel at high prices on platforms such as "Avito," the company announced that it would remove all these ads to "prevent speculation on essential goods," as reported in Varlamov News and RBK. At the same time, regional authorities, including in the Tver region, imposed restrictions on fuel sales to private individuals at "Surgutneftegas" and "Tatneft" stations, as noted in Прямой Эфир • Новости.

Political and economic context

The leader of the Communist Party, Gennady Zyuganov, claimed that "tension and danger in society have increased" and blamed the government's policy for the increase in the number of billionaires since the start of the war, as published in ND - Новости Дня. Conversely, sources affiliated with the establishment, such as Москва 24, emphasize that there are no supply problems and that the shortage is the result of "inappropriate demand" and public hysteria. At the same time, it was reported that Kazakhstan has begun to tighten border controls to prevent fuel smuggling from Russia, as noted in Суверенная экономика.