Ukrainian drone strikes deepen Russian fuel shortage as 322 gas stations close

The closures represented about 1.2% of the country’s 28,400 operating gas stations. Independent operators were hit hardest: Large chains suspended operations at 105 stations, midsize chains at 69 and small chains at 82.

Vertically integrated oil companies, including Lukoil, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Tatneft, temporarily closed another 67 stations. An additional 214 stations have yet to reopen after repairs that began last year.

Enkorr linked the worsening situation to a fuel shortage caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Twenty-six refineries have been hit this year. Eight have fully restored production, seven remain shut down and the rest are operating at reduced capacity.

Russia’s refinery throughput fell to 3.6 million barrels per day in July, its lowest level since May 2002, Enkorr reported, citing EA Analytics. That was nearly one-third below the recent seasonal average.

The shortage has begun to affect the wholesale market. The average exchange-traded price of A-92 gasoline rose 18% in the first half of 2026 to 63,700 rubles per metric ton.

Independent chains cannot buy fuel at viable prices, the Russian Fuel Union said. Even supplies purchased on commodity exchanges often fail to arrive because oil companies prioritize their own gas stations.

Those pressures are forcing private operators to close stations or put them up for sale, St. Petersburg Oil Club President Marat Murtazin said.

Dozens of gas stations have already been listed for sale at prices ranging from 1 million to 150 million rubles, Russian media reported.

Drones struck the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery in late July 2026, setting one of its processing units on fire.

Drones also attacked a refinery in the Russian city of Ufa, sparking fires.

Ukraine has knocked out nearly half of Russia’s oil-refining capacity, the Financial Times reported.

NV has also examined how many additional Russian oil refineries would have to be destroyed to halt the Russian economy.