Fuel Crisis in Russia
Russia is turning to foreign fuel imports to address its ongoing fuel crisis, but energy expert Mikhail Krutikhin argues this approach is ineffective due to prohibitive costs. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that negotiations are underway with unnamed partners to tackle the fuel shortage. According to Krutikhin, Russia sells its crude oil at a discount of roughly $20–$23 per barrel below Brent prices, yet it would have to purchase fuel at global market rates—requiring subsidies from the federal budget to cover the difference.
Krutikhin also noted that strikes on Ukrainian oil refineries continue unabated. He criticized President Vladimir Putin’s claims about fuel reserves, stating that
“when I start counting, it’s less than seven days’ worth”(Mikhail Krutikhin). Russia’s state reserve supplies have also suffered: a storage facility near Rostov-on-Don burned for a week, and another base close to Rybinsk was hit by a strike.
Production and Infrastructure
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has pledged to boost oil output to meet OPEC+ quotas, but Krutikhin insists
“it’s impossible—physically impossible to do”(Mikhail Krutikhin), given the damage to refineries and attacks on major pipelines from Western Siberia. To fulfill the quota, Russia would need to add approximately 50 million tons of oil per year.
In the European part of Russia, no refinery has escaped damage from the attacks. The strikes are now moving eastward, affecting regions such as Perm, Tyumen, and Orenburg. The largest gasoline producer in Omsk could be the next target. Krutikhin observed that
“Ukrainian drones keep flying toward these plants, taking them offline one after another”. Anti-drone nets at the Moscow refinery have failed to change the situation.
Overall, Russia’s fuel situation remains critical, and the import strategy may prove insufficient to overcome the current crisis.
Russia’s energy security landscape is increasingly precarious, with relentless attacks on oil infrastructure and dwindling fuel stockpiles. Amid global economic pressures and rising import costs, government efforts may fall short of stabilizing the market. Federal budget support is becoming ever more essential as Russia must adapt to new realities shaped by military conflict and international sanctions.
As the situation escalates, the recent drone strikes have prompted a stark acknowledgment of fuel shortages within Russia. These attacks have not only disrupted production but have also intensified the urgency for the Kremlin to find effective solutions to the ongoing crisis. The implications of these developments could significantly affect Russia's energy strategy moving forward.