The ripple effect from a severe gas shortage in Russia caused by Ukrainian drone strikes is being felt in Central Asia, where seasonal demand is rising.Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies, so it is no surprise that the ongoing destruction of Russian energy infrastructure threatens to hit two Central Asian states the hardest.Gas stations across Kyrgyzstan are already reporting shortages of high-octane auto fuel, the Moscow Times has reported. State regulators have established price controls on fuels and lubricants in response to the developing energy crunch.Russia has imposed restrictions on auto and jet fuel exports, a measure designed to mitigate deepening domestic shortages. During the first five months of this year, Russia supplied Kyrgyzstan with gas and diesel fuel that accounted for roughly two-thirds of domestic demand.In Tajikistan, officials are not acknowledging shortages yet, but they note prices for all kinds of fuel have spiked. During a three-week period spanning late May to mid-June, the cost of a liter of low-octane fuel rose about 9 percent, the Asia-Plus news agency reported. The increase was even sharper for diesel.Tajikistan is dependent on Russia for virtually all its fuel supplies. Officials are now reportedly exploring the possibility of securing Iranian imports.Elsewhere, Uzbek Airways, the national carrier for Central Asia’s most populous state, has announced it has cut back on its number of Russia-bound flights due to a shortage of jet fuel.Kazakhstan, which possesses abundant energy reserves and adequate refining capacity of its own, has reported it has sufficient fuel supplies for over a month, even as a major refinery at Atyrau undergoes scheduled maintenance. The repairs are expected to be completed by July 10. Despite comparatively ample supplies, Kazakh authorities appear to be taking a cautious approach. In late June, officials announced that they were exploring the possibility of purchasing fuel from China as a potential hedge against future energy shocks, the official Kazinfom news agency reported.Russian officials have characterized the gas shortage in the country as “not so easy, but controlled.” Due to intensifying Ukrainian drone strikes on facilities seen as essential for maintaining Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, at least 55 of Russia’s 83 federal regions and districts are presently grappling with severe fuel shortages, RFE/RL reported. In many municipalities, the shortages are restricting essential civic services such as garbage collection.The supply situation stands to get worse in the coming weeks. On July 1, Ukrainian drones caused substantial damage at an oil refinery in Ufa, in the Volga River region of Bashkortostan, over 800 miles from the frontlines of Ukraine. Drones also damaged a missile components assembly plant in the Penza region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to expand the drone offensive.“Every day, our plan for imposing Ukrainian long-range sanctions is being implemented. This is an entirely just response to everything Russia is doing against us,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter (now called X). “Peace is needed, and this is exactly what Russia’s leadership must realize.”By Eurasianet.orgMore Top Reads From Oilprice.comIndia Fast-Tracks State Company Stake Sales to Cover Oil Shock CostsNigeria's NNPC Revenue Drops in May Despite Higher Oil OutputRussia Ramps Up Pressure on Kyiv With Deadliest Strikes in Months