Fuel Crisis Grips 53 Russian Regions After Drone Strikes Hit Oil Depots

Lost Fuel and Lawsuits Pile Up Across Russia

According to Главком: Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure have triggered massive fuel losses, a surge in litigation, and a severe fuel shortage across the country. Strikes targeting oil depots and other fuel facilities throughout 2024 and 2025 destroyed hundreds of tons of gasoline and diesel. In response, customers of the affected depots have flooded courts with demands for compensation.

In February 2026, the Moscow Arbitration Court ordered the Crimean Marine Oil Terminal to pay over 8.4 million rubles to the company Mosregiongaz. The ruling stemmed from the destruction of 132 tons of gasoline and 24 tons of diesel during drone attacks. Additional lawsuits are pending against the Platonovskaya oil depot in the Tambov region and the Millerovskaya oil depot in the Rostov region.

Fuel Crisis Deepens and Spreads

By June 2026, Russia’s fuel crisis had escalated dramatically, leading to sales restrictions on gasoline and diesel in 53 regions. The toughest measures are in place across 18 federal subjects, including occupied Crimea, Sevastopol, parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as the so-called DNR and LNR. Drivers there are limited to 50 liters of fuel or a single tank per purchase. Another 11 regions are experiencing acute shortages of gasoline and diesel at filling stations.

On June 18 and into the early hours of June 19, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck targets inside Russia, including railway bridges near Rozdolne and Vladyslavivka in the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea. These actions underscore the escalating crisis surrounding Russia’s fuel infrastructure, which remains under constant threat.

The worsening fuel crisis in Russia highlights serious vulnerabilities in the country’s energy sector, with potential long-term economic and social repercussions.

The ongoing attacks on oil infrastructure reveal the fragility of Russia’s energy assets, likely increasing regional tensions and further inflaming the conflict. Control over fuel resources is becoming a critical factor in both military operations and economic stability for Ukraine and Russia alike.

The ongoing disruptions to Russia's oil supply chain are not limited to fuel shortages; recent reports indicate that Ukrainian drone strikes have significantly impacted eight of Russia's largest oil refineries. This further exacerbates the crisis, highlighting the precarious state of the nation's energy infrastructure amidst continuous military engagements.