Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries have some Russian regions running on empty
WHY THIS MATTERS: Russia is no stranger to gasoline price increases and shortages at this time of year, as demand soars from farmers bringing in the harvest and Russians hitting the roads for their last big vacation of the summer. But this year’s shortages show how Ukraine’s attacks on oil refineries in the 3 1/2-year-old war are affecting ordinary consumers.
Gas stations have run dry in some regions of Russia after Ukrainian drones struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks, with motorists waiting in long lines and officials resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether.
Wholesale prices on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange for A-95 gas — the highest octane — spiked to record highs last week, soaring to about 50% higher than in January, as demand soared from farmers seeking to bring in the harvest and Russians hitting the roads for their last big vacation of the summer.
Russian media outlets reported fuel shortages are hitting consumers in several regions in the Far East and on the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed from Ukraine by Moscow in 2014.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-gasoline-shortage-ukraine-war-2c1364fd199fa594f67ad097d6761814
= new reply since forum marked as read
