finance
Putin Says Russian Fuel Shortage Is Not Critical as Regions Restrict Sales After Ukrainian Refinery Strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 28 that fuel shortages and lines at gas stations persist but are not critical. At least 17 regions have imposed sales restrictions after Ukrainian drone attacks on energy sites.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 28 that problems for drivers and businesses persist and that lines remain at gas stations across the country. He described a certain shortage of fuel that is not critical, adding that gasoline reserves are being used and that July production levels should exceed those in June.
Putin stated that authorities are considering a complete ban on diesel fuel exports.
He called for every effort to maintain seasonal fuel supply schedules for agro-industrial enterprises, noting that a task force on fuel supplies is working round the clock. At least 17 Russian regions have imposed mandatory restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales, OilPrice.com reported. Dozens of additional regions are reporting shortages or restrictions by private fuel companies.
Hours before Putin spoke, a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and sparked a fire at the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strike hit the facility about 300 kilometers from the front line and also reached a refinery in the Yaroslavl region roughly 700 kilometers from the border.
On June 25 Zelenskyy approved a 40-day military operation by Ukraine’s security service targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
Putin said he expects a team of U.S. negotiators to travel to Moscow once Washington reaches an agreement with Iran over the Middle East war, and that Russia is ready to continue negotiations and discuss all details.
