FT: Russia Has Never Had Such Problems Before
- 21.08.2025, 14:35
- 7,444
The country is facing an unprecedented gasoline crisis.
Gasoline is becoming more expensive, gas stations are emptying, and the authorities are urgently banning exports. Ukrainian strikes on refineries and railroad infrastructure have thrown Russia's fuel market out of balance. The country that launched a full-scale war against Ukraine is now facing internal gasoline shortages, price increases and logistical collapse. This is according to the authoritative publication The Financial Times.
VSUVs are hitting precisely and at weak points
According to the publication, attacks by Ukrainian drones have put at least four major refineries out of operation since the beginning of July. Analysts estimate that Russia has lost up to 10% of its refining capacity.
The peculiarity of the current campaign is that it is targeting refineries in key refining and consumption regions rather than random sites. In some cases, the damage has been so severe that the plants may not be able to recover at all.
As a result, a severe fuel crisis has emerged on the Russian market: wholesale prices for A95 gasoline have hit an all-time high, jumping 55% since the beginning of the year, and the authorities have been forced to urgently ban gasoline exports to keep the domestic market in check.
In addition, demand has increased due to disruptions in rail and air traffic caused by the AFU strikes. In some regions gasoline is sold on coupons, as in the late Soviet era. Russia: gasoline on coupons and prices "out of plan" In Transbaikalia, Crimea and other regions there is an acute shortage of fuel.
In Chita, local chat rooms are full of reports of "missing A95", and gas stations are queuing and issuing gasoline on coupons. In Crimea, the Kremlin-appointed head of Sergei Aksyonov acknowledged the disruptions, citing "logistics and production cuts."
Even despite internal compensation for supplies and restrictions on exports, gasoline is in short supply. The price increase for the year amounted to 9%, including 5% since January.
Government restrictions only temporarily curb retail inflation, but the real shortage is felt, especially far from Moscow.
Ukraine's plan is to work systematically
Analysts note: the AFU campaign has become more planned, targeted and destructive than before. This is not just a tactic of "annoyances," but point-by-point work to disable the enemy's economy.
The Ukrainian General Staff, in a comment to The Financial Times, stated unequivocally: "This is not all." Indeed, the strikes on refineries were followed by strikes on railroad hubs, causing delays in freight transportation, including fuel deliveries.
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