Nationwide fuel shortages in Russia have led to extended queues at petrol stations and prompted violent altercations among drivers. These shortages are attributed to ongoing Ukrainian attacks targeting the country's oil refineries and tanker ships.
Recent incidents captured on video show escalating tensions. In one instance in the Maslyanino district of Novosibirsk, a fight broke out after a driver cut into a queue of motorists who had been waiting for hours. The altercation resulted in one man's shirt being ripped.
Similar scenes of frayed tempers have been observed in other regions. In Astrakhan, a dispute over filming a man at a petrol station led to a physical confrontation where a woman struck a man, causing his glasses to fall off. In the Rostov region, another brawl erupted at a filling station due to the lengthy, Soviet-style queues.
These domestic disruptions coincide with Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Overnight, a major oil refinery in Syzran, Samara region, owned by Rosneft and supplying fuel to the Russian military, was reportedly set ablaze by long-range kamikaze drones. Additionally, the Sea of Azov has seen multiple oil tankers targeted by aerial drones, an effort by Ukraine to disrupt supplies, particularly to Crimea.
Reports indicate that approximately 90 Russian vessels have been damaged or destroyed in the past week. A "shadow fleet" tanker was also struck near the key port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed to have downed 349 military drones during the night.
In Belgorod, a 13-year-old boy died from injuries sustained in a drone strike. The fuel shortages have had a significant economic impact, with petrol prices in occupied Yalta, Crimea, reportedly reaching the equivalent of £3.50 per liter, deterring many drivers from filling up.
Russian state television has acknowledged the fuel scarcity in parts of the country. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, addressed the issue on state TV, drawing parallels to past hardships in Russia and urging the public to remain calm and avoid actions that could destabilize the government. She acknowledged the difficulties but cautioned against seeking to overthrow President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's position on nuclear weapons, stating they would only be used if the existence of the Russian state is threatened. He also suggested that Ukraine should surrender territory to end the conflict. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued attacks on civilian areas, with five people reported killed in the Sumy border region. Russia's Ministry of Defence stated its forces targeted port infrastructure in Odesa and Chornomorsk, used for military cargo and fuel, as well as naval vessels and a ferry.