Russia's Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev acknowledged queues at gas stations across the country in a conversation with Kremlin pool correspondent Alexander Yunashev.
Tsivilev claimed he refuels his own car without problems because he drives a diesel vehicle. He admitted queues at gasoline stations but assured that his ministry is "actively working to eliminate this problem."
The statement came amid a second wave of the fuel crisis. Fuel shortages first emerged in late May. In late July and early August, regions reported lifting purchase limits, but later began reinstating them.
According to the GdeBENZ service, as of August 16, gasoline and diesel were available at only 28.1% of Russian gas stations. Authorities link the shortage to the consequences of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak acknowledged this connection in mid-July, noting the shortage arose "for understandable reasons" — due to strikes by Ukrainian drones.
Meanwhile, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) issued warnings about unjustified fuel price increases in the Tyumen and Tver regions, Sakhalin, and the occupied part of the Kherson region. In three cases, the warnings concerned price hikes; in Tyumen, the complaint involved Gazprom Neft's refusal to consider an application from an agricultural producer.
According to Rosstat, the average price of AI-92 gasoline on August 10 was 72.17 rubles, AI-95 — 78.21 rubles, and diesel fuel — 88.97 rubles per liter. Pro-government media report that the fuel shortage has led to higher potato prices.