MOSCOW — Cossacks have been deployed to help maintain order at petrol stations in parts of southern Russia as authorities respond to growing public frustration over fuel shortages that have spread across the country following sustained Ukrainian attacks on oil infrastructure.
Local officials in the Black Sea resort city of Anapa said Cossacks and volunteers were assisting police and municipal workers at filling stations by directing traffic, preventing disputes and helping enforce restrictions on fuel purchases. The city's administration said the measures were intended to reduce congestion and avoid conflicts as long queues formed outside petrol stations.
The deployment comes as Russia faces one of its most severe domestic fuel disruptions since the start of the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian drone strikes have repeatedly targeted refineries, oil depots and other energy facilities in recent months, reducing refining capacity and disrupting fuel distribution across numerous regions, according to industry data and Russian officials.
President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the shortages this week, describing the situation as "not critical" while saying a government task force was working to stabilize supplies through refinery repairs, logistical measures and, where necessary, fuel imports. Authorities have also extended restrictions on gasoline exports and temporarily relaxed certain fuel-quality standards in an effort to increase domestic availability.
The shortages have led several regions to introduce limits on fuel sales, while some cities have taken additional steps. In the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, local authorities temporarily suspended gasoline sales to private motorists as supplies tightened, according to municipal officials. Russian law enforcement has also detained individuals suspected of hoarding fuel or reselling it at inflated prices in affected areas, authorities said.
Ukraine has said its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure is intended to undermine Moscow's military logistics and increase pressure on the Kremlin to negotiate an end to the war. Russia says the attacks target civilian infrastructure and has continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian territory. Neither side's broader claims regarding the effectiveness or legality of the campaign could be independently verified.
Analysts say damage to major refineries, including the suspension of processing at the NORSI refinery following a recent drone strike, has compounded seasonal demand during the summer and strained Russia's fuel distribution network. Long queues have been reported at filling stations in multiple regions, including areas far from the front lines.
Russian authorities have said they will continue implementing emergency measures to restore fuel supplies while repairs to damaged energy facilities proceed.
