Russia’s Fuel Shortage Persists Amid Growing War Impact, Yet Patriotism Remains Unshaken

To remain composed while waiting in line, Lyubov gently strokes her pet dog, Agatha.

Lyubov’s perspective on the fuel crisis.

“Everyone says the country faces a difficult situation,” Lyubov explains. “All of this is linked to that situation.”

Prior to Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there were no drone attacks on Russian oil refineries or any other facilities within the country. Although these strikes have not prompted the Kremlin to change course, it continues to describe its actions as a “special military operation” — its war against Ukraine.

To mitigate the crisis, Russia has started importing gasoline.

Such a move is remarkable for a nation widely regarded as an energy superpower and a leading exporter of crude oil.

To alleviate the shortage, authorities have temporarily permitted the production and sale of lower‑grade gasoline, such as Euro 2, which is quicker to manufacture. Euro 2 contains up to 50 times more sulphur than modern Euro 5 fuel and was prohibited in Russia in 2013.

A cautionary note accompanies this decision.

“For modern vehicles,” the government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta warned, “regular use of lower‑grade gasoline can increase pressure on fuel injectors, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, catalytic converters and particulate filters. While a single refueling with Euro 2 is unlikely to damage an engine, it markedly reduces the safety margin.”

The impact of the war on Russian civilians extends beyond attacks on oil infrastructure.

Ukrainian strikes on distribution centres of Wildberries, Russia’s equivalent of Amazon, are disrupting shoppers and causing economic strain for sellers.

This week, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that attacks on industrial facilities and infrastructure “do cause damage; this is obvious. We understand this, we see it.”

Nevertheless, the Kremlin chief downplayed the severity of these issues.

“There are no critical consequences from such attacks. They have not occurred and cannot occur.”

In other words, there is no need for panic.

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