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Empty gas station in occupied Yevpatoria, Crimea (Photo: REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak)
Plagued by persistent fuel
shortages, Russian authorities have restricted gasoline sales across 20
regions of the country, including Moscow and Leningrad Oblast, Serhiy Kuyun,
director of automotive consultancy A-95, told NV Radio on June 16.
“Overall, there are reports of various restrictions in roughly 20 regions, including seemingly well-off areas such as Moscow and Leningrad Oblast, where local authorities have also urged people not to panic,” Kuyun said.
“But people hear that and start filling jerrycans and going to stations.”
Kuyun said Russia produces roughly as much gasoline as it consumes, so problems often emerge at peak demand in August and September. He said shortages typically begin in the south, notably in Crimea and other occupied territories, where Ukrainian forces have disrupted logistics.
“That’s why the south is affected now: the biggest problem in Crimea is that our forces cut logistics there,” Kuyun said.
“The problem spreads: people go to neighboring regions, to Krasnodar Krai, and begin removing fuel in barrels and jerrycans. It spreads like gangrene. Then neighboring regions do the same.”
Kuyun said panic may amplify the crisis more effectively than Ukrainian strikes.
“It’s hard to fight this because whatever the authorities say, it gets worse. They won’t talk about negatives, which is understandable. When they say ‘don’t panic,’ everyone rushes to stations faster and with more jerrycans.”
On June 13, independent Russian newspaper Novaya
Gazeta reported that major fuel retailers in several regions, including Moscow,
St. Petersburg, and Tatarstan, have started limiting fuel sales.
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