Gas Stations In Russia Have Begun Closing By The Hundreds
1- 4.08.2026, 11:23
- 1,606
Because of the fuel crisis.
In Russia, amid a fuel crisis that has affected nearly all regions, hundreds of gas stations have begun to close. From January through August, 322 stations suspended operations and underwent repairs, which is 70% more than during the same period last year. In total, the closures affected 1.2% of the country’s total number of operating gas stations (28,400). This is according to data from “OMT Consult,” cited by "Izvestia".
Most of the gas stations that have ceased operations—105 locations—belong to large independent chains such as “Gasoil,” “Rosgaz,” “Zvezda,” Tamic Energy, and MMK Petrol. Medium-sized and small gas station chains have closed 69 and 82 stations, respectively. Vertically integrated oil and gas companies (VIGCs)—Lukoil, Tatneft, Gazpromneft, NNK, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz, and Gazprom—have temporarily suspended operations at 67 stations. At the same time, as noted by OMT Consult, another 214 gas stations have been under repair since last year.
The crisis in Russia’s fuel market arose due to attacks by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries. Long-range strikes this year have put 26 facilities out of operation. As of the end of July, only 8 had been able to resume full operations, at least 11 had partially resumed production, and 7 remained idle, according to The Moscow Times.
As a result, according to EA Analytics estimates, oil refining in Russia fell to its lowest level since May 2002—3.6 million barrels per day. This is about one-third below the seasonal average: between 2020 and 2025, Russian refineries processed an average of 5.3–5.6 million barrels per day during the summer.
Against this backdrop, regions across Russia—from Siberia to Kaliningrad—were hit by a fuel shortage. Gas stations imposed limits on fuel sales per customer, and some stations were forced to suspend operations. The average exchange price of AI-92 in the first half of 2026 reached 63,700 rubles per metric ton, an 18% increase year-over-year.
In a letter to the government, the Russian Fuel Union complained that private gas stations cannot purchase fuel at reasonable prices, and that raw materials purchased on the exchange are not being supplied to them, since oil companies prioritize supplying fuel to their own stations. The lack of gasoline availability for independent chains persists to this day and is leading to gas station closures, noted Marat Murtazin , president of the “St. Petersburg Oil Club” .
In turn, the owners of closed gas stations have begun actively putting them up for sale, as previously reported by “Izvestia.” Prices for the stations range from 1 million to 150 million rubles. Murtazin concluded that the future situation with gas stations will depend on the availability and cost of fuel.
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