Bizarre: How an Oil-Rich Nation Ended Up in a Fuel Crisis

Long queues formed at petrol stations in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, due to petrol shortages. Supply has been disrupted, with some regions completely running out of fuel and prices rising. Dozens of vehicles queued at a Lukoil station in Rostov-on-Don on Tuesday (23/6/2026) to refuel amid the scarcity affecting the area. According to local officials, a number of filling stations are experiencing petrol shortages due to a decline in production at major refineries amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict. This situation has led to long queues at various petrol stations in the southern Russian city. Regional Agriculture Minister Anna Kasyanenko said several filling stations in the Rostov region were affected by supply reductions, triggering the long queues. One driver told Reuters he had been queuing for about an hour and a half, while most others waited 20 to 30 minutes. Some stations were even reported to have run out of petrol entirely. Similar conditions have occurred in several other regions of Russia, which is one of the world’s largest crude oil producers. Various areas have reported restrictions on fuel sales, rising prices for oil products, and long queues at filling stations due to supply disruptions. The daily newspaper Vedomosti reported that the Russian government is considering importing fuel to ease the disruption in petrol and diesel supplies. The situation is said to be linked to the impact of attacks on oil refinery infrastructure. President Vladimir Putin also addressed the latest attacks on civilian infrastructure, including an oil refinery in Moscow. He described the attacks as an attempt to destabilise society, amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.