Ukrainian attacks disrupt Russian petrol supplies and push up prices
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Result of Strikes on Refineries: Russian Regions Face Fuel Shortages
The shortage is most acute in Crimea. At some gas stations, gasoline has run out completely, while at others it appears only sporadically. The causes of the shortage have not been officially confirmed, but it is likely linked to systematic strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces against Russia’s oil refining infrastructure.Ukrainian drones have been targeting not only fuel tanks but also processing facilities, without which production is impossible. These attacks are believed to be the main reason behind the current shortages.
This was reported by Krym.Realii, as well as local media and Telegram channels.
The shortage is most acute in Crimea. At some gas stations, gasoline has run out completely, while at others it appears only sporadically, creating a persistent fuel deficit on the peninsula.
On August 14, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported the disappearance of the most popular AI-95 brand, posting a photo of a gas station price board showing “zeros” in the column.
Fire at a refinery in Syzran, Russia. August 15, 2025. Photo credits: @Exilenova_plus
On August 15, the Russian-controlled “Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Crimea” attributed the shortage to delivery problems through the Kerch Strait.
The situation worsened on August 19, when AI-92 gasoline also began disappearing from sale. At the same time, prices for all grades of fuel rose by 50–90 kopecks per liter. Only diesel supplies remain stable for now.
Other Russian regions are also experiencing problems. In Transbaikalia, AI-95 is no longer available at gas stations, with the remaining stock sold only to corporate clients. In Vladivostok, both AI-92 and AI-95 are in shortage.
In Buryatia and Primorsky Krai, the lack of supply pushed prices up by an average of 5–10 rubles per liter.
The causes of the shortage have not been officially confirmed, but it is likely linked to systematic strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces against Russia’s oil refining infrastructure.
Ukrainian drones have been targeting not only fuel tanks but also processing facilities, without which production is impossible. These attacks are believed to be the main reason behind the current shortages.
In the short term, the situation could cause major disruptions in logistics, further straining Russia’s economy.
On August 14, the Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported the disappearance of the most popular AI-95 brand, posting a photo of a gas station display showing “zeros” in the price column.
Fuel Shortages Hit Russia’s Far East as Ukrainian Strikes Take Refineries Offline
Russia has lost roughly 13% of its oil-refining capacity since early August. Ukrainian drones have hit at least seven Russian refineries, forcing four to shut down completely. The disruption has snarled traffic on the Ussuri federal highway which connects Primorye with Khabarovsk region.
Russia has lost roughly 13% of its oil-refining capacity since early August as Ukrainian drones have hit at least seven Russian refineries, forcing four to shut down completely.
Motorists in the Primorye region started reporting supply problems in early August. The shortages have since spread, with fuel disappearing from pumps in towns including Arsenyev, Ussuriysk and the Chuguyevsky district before reaching the port city of Vladivostok itself, the local outlet PrimaMedia reported.
The disruption has snarled traffic on the Ussuri federal highway which connects Primorye with the neighboring Khabarovsk region, with long lines of cars forming at gas stations along the highway, the news site DVhab reported.
Residents said they can only buy fuel using ration cards, and only emergency services or company vehicles with special fuel cards are being reliably supplied.
“The pumps are covered with ‘Out of order’ signs,” one driver told the outlet. “You can still fill up in larger towns, but the lines are an hour and a half to two hours long.”
Oil prices: How the attacks on Iran could affect energy costs
The price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, hit a five-month high of $81.40 at one point. News of a ceasefire has helped the price to fall back to about $69 a barrel. The oil price is closely-watched as it can far-reaching consequences for countries across the world, including the UK. Higher energy costs can make many goods more expensive, as seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The conflict had raised fears that Iran could decide to block traffic going through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. About 20% of global oil and gas flows through this narrow shipping lane on any given day, from Gulf states such as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran itself. On Sunday night, Iran’s Press TV reported that the country’s parliament had approved a measure to close the channel, a move which would have profound consequences for global shipping and international trade if it happens.
24 June 2025 Share Save Lucy Hooker and Emma Haslett Business reporters Share Save
Getty Images
The recent conflict in the Middle East has led to sharp swings in the oil price. The price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, hit a five-month high of $81.40 at one point after the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran. But news of a ceasefire has helped the price to fall back to about $69 a barrel. The oil price is closely-watched as it can far-reaching consequences for countries across the world, including the UK. Higher energy costs can make many goods more expensive, as seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The conflict had raised fears that Iran could decide to block traffic going through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?
The Strait of Hormuz is a channel between Iran and the northernmost tip of Oman, linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point it is just 33km (20 miles) across – about the same width as the English Channel. It is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. About 20% of global oil and gas flows through this narrow shipping lane. On any given day, about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas, worth $600bn, passes through it, from Gulf states such as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran itself. On Sunday night, Iran’s Press TV reported that the country’s parliament had approved a measure to close the channel, a move which would have profound consequences for global shipping and international trade if it happens.
Why haven’t oil prices reacted more?
Analysts at Goldman Sachs have suggested a worst-case scenario could lead to the supply of oil through the Strait of Hormuz halving for a month and dropping 10% for another 11 months. This would lead to the price of Brent crude peaking at $110 per barrel, they say. For now, though, traders are content that the risk of Iran actually closing the Strait of Hormuz is limited. “It would be difficult for Iran to fully close the Strait of Hormuz for an extended period due to the position of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain,” wrote Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. “I think it’s pretty unlikely,” adds Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Liberum. That’s partly because Iran may come under pressure from its allies to keep the channel open. “China’s role in all this is pretty significant, because they can decide whether they want to provide financial support and military support to Iran, and they won’t do that if they think that a key provider of their oil is going to be disrupted,” says Mr French.
Will this affect energy bills and petrol prices?
Any conflict in the Middle East is bound to affect global energy prices, which has a knock-on effect on bills and petrol prices. In the aftermath of Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs at the beginning of April, Brent crude prices dropped as low as $60. But the conflict in the Middle East has “unwound all the impact of tariffs on energy markets”, says Mr French, pushing prices back to where they were at the end of March. One of the biggest concerns for British households would be if the price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rose. Although the UK procures most of its LNG from Norway, any blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would push up prices around the world. Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insights, says household bills are safe from any volatility for now, because the energy regulator, Ofgem, has already announced the energy price cap for July until September. But if this conflict continues past September, household bills could rise. And businesses, which aren’t subject to the cap, could be hit more immediately. “That would certainly be a challenge,” he says. Consumers could see a more immediate effect in prices at petrol pumps . “There’s a lag of three or four weeks as the oil goes through the refining system,” says Mr French. If Brent does reach $100, “you’re staring down the barrel of 155p, 160p at the pump, which will be quite a shock”, he says. Prices at the pump have already begun to creep up. “The average price of a litre of petrol has increased by 1.5p to 133.5p in the last week while diesel has gone up by 2p to 140p,” says Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC. However, he adds prices were a “long way off” those seen in spring 2022 when Russia had just invaded Ukraine.
What does this mean for global economies?