Fuel Crisis Deepens in Russia: Fuel Limits Imposed on Trucks in Primorsky

In Russia's Primorsky Kray region, strict new restrictions have been imposed on fuel sales to trucks and lorries in order to prevent unfair commercial practices. According to the decisions announced by the regional government's deputy chairman, Vladimir Malyuşitski, sales per vehicle in city centers have been limited to 100 liters. At stations located on intercity highways, this limit has been increased to 200 liters. Authorities state that the reason for this gradual restriction is to prevent congestion at stations and the depletion of stocks. These measures will directly affect the daily operations of drivers, especially those operating in the transportation sector.

Malyuşitski clearly stated to the public the main rationale behind these strict measures. According to the regional official, some opportunistic and dishonest drivers started using fuel stations almost like storage areas. These individuals filled their large trucks with thousands of liters of fuel, left the region, and then emptied this fuel to sell it elsewhere. After emptying the fuel, the drivers returned to the same stations and repeated the process, indicating a serious black market or illegal trade network. It was emphasized that intervention was essential because this abuse made it almost impossible for ordinary citizens and other drivers to obtain fuel.

In addition to these restrictions, bans on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuels in jerry cans or plastic canisters are also being strictly maintained in Primorsky Kray. The limits set for such additional containers aim to prevent the public from panic-buying and stockpiling fuel unnecessarily. Meanwhile, the regional administration is trying to reassure the public that Primorsky's fuel needs for the summer season are fully met and that there are no logistical problems. Authorities state that the current restrictions are entirely temporary and will be lifted immediately once the artificial demand in the market decreases. These statements aim to alleviate the feelings of fear and uncertainty among the local population.

All these events stand out as just a small reflection of a massive and growing fuel crisis that has been ongoing for more than a month across Russia. At the root of this deep crisis, which has enveloped a large part of the country, lie the successful and frequently repeated drone attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on Russia's strategic oil refinery facilities. Due to these attacks, the country's processing capacity has significantly decreased, and the fuel supply chain has been severely disrupted. In many regions of Russia, local administrations have been forced to impose restrictions at the pumps through official decrees in order to manage this acute shortage. Even in regions without official restrictions, station owners are independently halting sales, leading to massive queues.

The country's top leadership can no longer deny this crisis and the damage it has caused, which is unfolding before the eyes of the public. On Sunday, 28 Haziran, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-level assessment meeting to address this critical fuel problem the country is facing. Speaking at the meeting, Putin finally had to accept the fact that Russian citizens are waiting in long queues at stations. Although the President admitted that citizens cannot always find the specific types and brands of gasoline they need, he argued that the current obvious shortage is 'not critical'. These statements indicate that the Kremlin continues its claims that the crisis is only a temporary situation and will be brought under control shortly.