Russia is facing growing fuel shortages, with long queues forming at petrol stations from the Baltic region to Siberia as intensified Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure disrupt fuel supplies across the country.
Drivers across multiple regions are waiting for hours to refuel, while some petrol stations have run out of petrol and diesel, displaying "Out of Order" signs on fuel pumps as supplies dwindle.
Most Russian regions introduced fuel purchase limits in June, restricting the amount motorists can buy in an effort to manage shortages and preserve supplies.
"I work as a taxi driver. I work until lunch, and after lunch I stand for a couple of hours at petrol stations," taxi driver Aleksandr said. He described waiting for two hours at a station near Moscow, only for it to close temporarily because of supply issues.
Another driver, Nikita, said the shortages were fuelling public frustration.
"The main problem is not that there's nowhere to refuel, but that people are getting very angry," he said, adding that long waits and high temperatures were making conditions increasingly difficult for motorists.
The shortages follow a sustained Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and other energy infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Moscow's logistics and military supply chains.
In late June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said authorities would take measures to stabilise the domestic fuel market, while officials urged the public to remain calm, insisting supply chain disruptions were being addressed.
Despite those assurances, fuel shortages continue to affect daily life across parts of the country.
Signs of public dissatisfaction have also emerged. A June survey found the proportion of Russians who believe the country is moving in the right direction fell to 52% from 61% in May.
The same poll showed Putin's approval rating declining to 74%, its lowest level since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The fuel shortages come as Russia continues to face mounting economic and logistical pressures linked to the war, including repeated Ukrainian strikes on strategic energy facilities deep inside Russian territory.
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