Russia’s Pskov cracks down on fuel hoarders
REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov
Security forces in Russia’s Pskov Oblast have launched raids
to find residents hoarding scarce
gasoline, regional Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said on July 20.
Vedernikov said the operations have targeted municipalities, private homes, and garage cooperatives. Inspectors found violations of fire-safety rules, including large quantities of gasoline stored in garages, a practice that is strictly prohibited.
He also posted screenshots of social media posts in which users admitted storing fuel in jerrycans.
Vedernikov said the fuel situation in the region “is gradually stabilizing,” while admitting that most districts “still have problems” obtaining AI-95 gasoline, with the tightest shortages in areas served only by Surgutneftegaz stations and in Velikiye Luki, where deliveries are clearly insufficient.
Pskov authorities earlier introduced sales limits, including selling gasoline on even and odd days depending on license-plate numbers; most gas stations set purchase limits.
Analysts say the fuel crisis is affecting about 50 million
Russians, roughly 35 percent of the country’s population. On June 28, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged that Russia was experiencing
gasoline shortages following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries.
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