Motorists queue, petrol stations run dry and prices surge in country that is one of the world’s top energy exporters
Russia prides itself on being an energy superpower, but some of its citizens are suddenly struggling to fill their fuel tanks after weeks of Ukrainian drone strikes crippled refining capacity across the country.
Petrol stations in several regions have run dry while prices have surged to record highs and motorists queue for hours.
Over the summer, Kyiv has stepped up its drone campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure, a strategy designed to put pressure on Moscow and to signal that Ukraine still holds leverage in the peace talks led by the US president, Donald Trump.
Fuel shortages are being felt most acutely in remote regions, including the far east, southern Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula, where motorists have been forced to switch to more expensive grades because of shortages of regular A-95 petrol.
