Russian authorities have deployed Cossack guards to manage long queues and unrest at petrol stations nationwide, a response to significant fuel shortages caused by successful Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. These strikes, part of a broader exchange of attacks between the two nations, have compelled Russia, the world's third-largest oil producer, to import gasoline from as far as India.
Motorists across Russia are experiencing lengthy waits for fuel, with prices reportedly spiraling. In the Black Sea resort town of Anapa, authorities confirmed Cossacks were assisting in regulating traffic flow, preventing conflicts, and ensuring orderly queues. The city administration stated that these measures have reduced waiting times from up to four hours to between 30 and 40 minutes, with drivers limited to purchasing 20 liters of gasoline per vehicle.
Anatoly Kasyanov, identified as a Cossack on duty, described their role as helping people navigate the stations and prevent altercations. Anapa, located in the Krasnodar region, has energy infrastructure that has been a frequent target of Ukrainian air attacks. In a separate incident in Krasnodar, police detained two men found with 1,000 liters of gasoline in their car, suspected of illegal resale.
The city of Novorossiysk previously suspended gasoline sales to private motorists but later resumed them, according to state media. Ukraine has continued its strikes, with reports of two more major oil hubs being hit overnight, causing smoke to rise from depots in Tver and the Stavropol region. The number of oil tankers reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones has reached two dozen this week, impacting supplies to Crimea and other areas.
Scenes of public agitation have emerged, with videos circulating on social media platforms showing physical altercations at petrol stations. One clip depicts two pairs of men fighting outside a station, while another shows a woman confronting a motorcyclist for allegedly cutting in line. Other footage captures motorists exchanging blows and, in one instance, a man allegedly displaying a weapon.
Political reactions have also surfaced. Two Communist Party lawmakers criticized the government's handling of the fuel crisis. Vyacheslav Markhayev highlighted instances of people waiting up to 36 hours for just 15 liters of gasoline in the Zabaikalsky region and questioned the lack of preparedness. He called the situation a "failure of state governance." Nina Ostanina, another deputy, challenged Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak's statements on market supply, questioning why the extent of refinery damage, with nearly a third reportedly out of commission, was not being openly admitted.
President Vladimir Putin had previously acknowledged fuel supply issues and shortages in Russian regions on June 28, stating that a task force was addressing the problem. Last week, a government decree allowed refiners to produce gasoline and diesel with higher sulfur content for six months, until the end of the year, as part of measures to alleviate the crisis.