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World
Fuel shortages have surfaced in parts of Russia following increased Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities and ongoing Western sanctions on Russia's energy and defense sectors.
The issue of fuel scarcity has reappeared prominently in Russia as Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities and supply lines escalate, coinciding with the continuation of Western sanctions targeting Russia's energy and defense industries.
The Kremlin was the first to acknowledge the situation, with Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, confirming a fuel shortage in Crimea and stating that authorities are implementing measures to address the problem.
Contrasting this, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, asserted that fuel supplies are proceeding according to planned schedules. Simultaneously, the energy committee in Saint Petersburg reported no signs of resource shortages, while the authorities in Tatarstan described restrictions at certain fuel stations as precautionary steps aimed at maintaining market stability.
Sergei Sobyanin, mayor of Moscow, announced the interception of dozens of drones following damage to a facility within a Moscow oil refinery. In response to the attack, the company "Tatneft" imposed sales restrictions at its stations, limiting fuel quantities available to vehicles and restricting purchases to cash payments only.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault on Russian oil facilities as part of targeted operations against installations supporting Russia's military efforts. The Ukrainian General Staff revealed that the recently targeted Moscow refinery is a primary supplier of aviation fuel to several major Russian airports, with a processing capacity exceeding 12 million tons annually.
While there have been limited admissions of shortages in certain areas, ongoing attacks on refineries and critical crossings, along with expanded sanctions on the energy sector, raise the question of whether these developments represent localized supply pressures or a broader issue.
Rami Al-Qalyoubi, a professor at the School of Oriental Studies at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, stated that Russia is indeed facing a fuel shortage crisis in some regions, particularly as disruptions in refinery supplies have occurred due to recent strikes on several facilities.
In an interview with "Erem News," Al-Qalyoubi added that the crisis is logistical and supply-related but remains within manageable limits that the Russian authorities can handle without decisively affecting strategic decisions or the course of the war.
He noted that contemporary experiences indicate economic pressures do not necessarily lead to changes in state policies or force countries to abandon their strategic choices, citing examples of nations that have endured crises, sanctions, and economic pressures yet maintained their core directions.
Al-Qalyoubi emphasized that Ukraine aims to transfer the war's consequences into Russia by targeting vital installations and creating internal problems that could influence public opinion. He also pointed out that Moscow still possesses extensive media tools through television channels and various platforms to present its narrative to a broad segment of Russian society.
He concluded that the challenges Russia currently faces fall within the scope of limited logistical and supply issues and do not reach a level capable of altering the war's trajectory or decisively impacting the Russian leadership's orientations.
Ibrahim Kaban, director of the "Geostrategic" studies network, highlighted that a prolonged war imposes cumulative burdens on all parties involved, with military conflicts directly linked to the economic and financial capabilities of states.
In remarks to "Erem News," Kaban stressed that Ukraine has received continuous European support in humanitarian, economic, and military domains over recent years, providing it with resources that have helped sustain its war efforts and ongoing field operations.
He pointed out that Western countries possess substantial financial capacities, whereas Russia relies more heavily on its direct military power.
Kaban added that relying solely on firepower is not a sustainable approach for managing long-term wars, as extended confrontations require ongoing economic and financial resources to support military operations and maintain combat readiness.
He noted that European sanctions and economic measures against Moscow remain in place, alongside continued U.S. restrictions, adding further pressure on the Russian economy.
Kaban observed that the ongoing conflict demands increasing support for troops, spending on fighters and volunteers, and the provision of various logistical and military necessities. He warned that these factors could create escalating challenges for Russian military operations in the upcoming phase and potentially affect the capacity to sustain the war with the same offensive momentum.
