Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Sunday that Ukrainian drone strikes are hitting Russia's fuel supply hard. Meeting with officials,Putin said attacks on oil infrastructure are causing "problems" for drivers,businesses and farmers .
Social media shows long lines and arguments at gas stations across Moscow,Siberia and Crimea. Ukraine's strike campaign targets oil refineries and supply routes far from front lines,exposing weak spots in Russia's energy sector — a pillar of its global power .
Recent Ukrainian strikes hit oil refineries in Krasnodar and Yaroslavl,further tightening Russia's fuel supply. Kremlin now considering emergency measures,including producing and importing lower-quality fuel,as per draft government document.
Russian opposition figure Maxim Katz highlighted severity,saying "There are fuel problems in Russia right now — real ones." Long waits for limited fuel are common,with some spending hours in line. In some cities, residents spend half a day just searching for fuel.
Frustration boils over among drivers. One video shows women arguing in line,ending in a shouting match. In Serov,a male driver was filmed yelling at women before assaulting one. Similar chaos erupted in Ryazan and Irkutsk as drivers waited for fuel.
One woman,Tanya,waited 13 hours in Siberia for half tank of fuel,blaming turmoil on Putin's war in Ukraine. "He should stop this senseless conflict and let us live normally," she said.
Fuel shortages add to economic pressures from the war. Katz noted Russia's economy leans heavily on military spending,which he argues brings no productive returns. "The whole economy is now built on war," he warned,as budget deficit grows.
Katz says Russia's not collapsing yet,but economic strain is rising. Officials hint at spending cuts. A European intelligence
As events unfold,Kremlin faces challenges on battlefield and home front,with fuel crisis stark reminder of war's wide impact . Public frustration is clear — how will government handle it…?
