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Russian authorities acknowledged on Friday that some regions face new petrol shortages, as Ukraine steps up attacks on the country’s oil refineries.
Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s energy sites with drones and missiles for months, hoping to hit a vital source of revenue for the Russian army.
Russia has shut down one major refinery at Orsk, around 1,300 kilometres from the front line, for six months after it was attacked this week.
“The situation remains tense in several regions of the country regarding fuel supplies to service stations,” the government said in a social media post.
Oil companies are “taking the necessary measures to increase deliveries to the most vulnerable regions,” according to the statement.
It said a government meeting had been held on the shortages and the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for energy, Alexander Novak, has ordered that fuel prices be monitored.
Companies and car drivers have suffered repeat shortages in recent months because of the conflict.
Nearly every Russian region has at some point had to limit fuel sales or impose other kinds of rationing, such as banning the filling of jerry cans.
The Krasnodar region on the Black Sea, known for its tourist beaches, has been one of the worst hit.
“The situation regarding petrol supplies at service stations has become complicated,” regional governor Venyamin Kondratyev said.
Oil companies “have again started imposing restrictions on the amount of fuel supplied and reduced service station opening hours,” he added.
“This is causing concern among the region’s residents and visitors,” the governor added, stating that he had asked the authorities to send more fuel.
The governor of the Orenburg region, where the Orsk refinery is located, said on Thursday it had been shut down and repairs would take months.
Rare admission
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time in June that his country was facing a “certain deficit” of fuel.
Speaking at a meeting with officials that focused on the fuel situation, Putin admitted that the country was “going through a difficult period,” but insisted that Moscow would “honour all its social obligations.”
Shortly after, he told state TV that the country’s arms industries will quickly ramp up production of air defence systems to fend off Ukrainian attacks.
Claiming the issues that arise are not critical, Putin also said that Russia will import more fuel and speed up repair works at oil facilities to end the “temporary deficit.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to strikes on Russian energy sites deep inside Russia as “long-range sanctions.”
Additional sources • AP, AFP