MOSCOW — Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered fuel shortages across parts of Russia, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Tuesday, as the attacks continue to disrupt the country’s energy infrastructure.
The strikes have reduced Russia’s oil refining capacity by roughly a quarter, leading to long queues at petrol stations in multiple regions and forcing authorities to impose export restrictions on fuel, according to government officials and industry sources.
Recent attacks targeted facilities including refineries in Krasnodar and Yaroslavl regions, with fires reported at the sites. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strikes as aimed at weakening Russia’s war effort by hitting plants supplying fuel to occupied territories.
Russia’s Energy Ministry has attributed gasoline shortages to the drone campaign, which has halted or scaled back production at key facilities responsible for a significant share of domestic output. Shortages have been reported as far as Siberia.
Putin said the attacks were designed to create divisions within Russia while admitting ongoing supply strains for motorists and businesses.
Russian authorities have downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones in recent weeks, according to the Defence Ministry, though strikes have continued to cause damage. Details on the full extent of current shortages and any casualties from the latest incidents remain limited.
The situation is developing, with officials monitoring fuel supplies amid the sustained Ukrainian air campaign.
