Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that Ukrainian long-range strikes are creating fuel supply problems within Russia, as videos emerge showing long lines and confrontations at filling stations across multiple regions.
Putin stated on Sunday that strikes on "critical infrastructure" and energy facilities were causing "problems," including shortages affecting motorists, businesses, and agricultural producers. He asserted that Russia was managing these issues, according to Reuters.
These remarks represent a rare admission from the Kremlin that Ukraine's long-range campaign is having a noticeable effect beyond the immediate battlefield. For Ukraine, the fuel crisis signifies that its strike campaign is imposing visible domestic challenges on Russia, highlighting a vulnerability in a nation whose global standing has historically been linked to its energy sector.
Reports indicate that shortages have spread throughout Russia, including occupied Crimea, southern regions, Siberia, and Moscow. According to a draft government document reported by the Kommersant daily newspaper, Moscow is considering emergency measures such as temporarily allowing the production and import of lower-quality fuel.
Maxim Katz, a Russian opposition figure and former Moscow municipal deputy, told Fox News Digital that the fuel shortages are a tangible and growing concern for Russians. "There are fuel problems in Russia right now — real ones," Katz said. "I’m getting a lot of reports, and I can see it too: It’s hard. You can’t find fuel, or you have to stand in line."
Videos obtained by Fox News Digital depict scenes of frustration at Russian filling stations, with drivers seen in long queues and engaging in arguments. In one instance, a confrontation escalated between two women over a place in line. In Serov, police were called after a male driver allegedly punched a woman. Footage from Ryazan shows a fight breaking out near a forecourt, and in Irkutsk, a man was seen repeatedly striking another motorist. One individual, identified as Tanya, 29, reported waiting 13 hours in Siberia for half a tank of fuel and attributed the disruption to the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries, depots, and supply routes with long-range drones. On Sunday, Ukraine reportedly struck two Russian oil refineries, one in Krasnodar and another in Yaroslavl, as part of its ongoing campaign to target infrastructure linked to Moscow's war effort.
Katz also noted that the fuel disruptions are occurring alongside broader economic pressures stemming from the war, including high domestic borrowing costs, steep interest rates, and a budget heavily allocated to military spending. "The whole economy is now built on war," Katz stated. "War does not produce anything. Nothing comes back from it. So what remains is a big hole."
While Katz indicated that Russia is not on the verge of collapse, he observed that the strain is continuously increasing, with economic officials expressing concerns about potential spending cuts due to a widening budget deficit. A European intelligence source confirmed to Fox News Digital that the economic pressure is proving effective.
