The shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel, which led more than 20 Russian regions to impose limits at gas stations in late June 2026, has begun to subside. During the week from July 28 to 30, authorities in several regions announced the removal or easing of restrictions—the situation is gradually returning to normal operations at gas stations.
Zabaykalsky Krai: Complete abolition of the QR-code system
In Zabaykalsky Krai, the QR-code system at gas stations was abolished as of July 30, 2026. The regional Ministry of Housing and Utilities, Energy, Digitalization and Communications reported that gas stations have been switched to normal operation without prior fuel reservation. The decision is explained by accumulated reserves and stable supplies.
Omsk Oblast lifts fuel sale limits
Omsk Oblast Governor Vitaly Khotsenko announced on July 28, 2026 in his Max messenger channel the complete lifting of limits on fuel sales at gas stations. Prior to this decision, the region had the following restrictions:
No more than 40 liters of gasoline per refueling;
No more than 80 liters of diesel fuel;
At highway gas stations, diesel was sold in volumes up to 200 liters.
Saratov Oblast increases daily limit
The operational headquarters of Saratov Oblast decided to raise the limit for gasoline sales to individuals to 40 liters per day—previously the restriction was 30 liters. The decision was announced on July 28, 2026 by the region's governor, Roman Busargin, who had previously himself proposed easing restrictions amid the gradual stabilization of the fuel situation. Earlier, the regional authorities had imposed stricter limits.
Samara Oblast: Restrictions remain without tightening
In Samara Oblast, the existing restrictions—up to 40 liters of gasoline and up to 100 liters of diesel fuel for passenger cars, as well as a ban on sales into canisters—were extended without tightening. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, noted the stabilization of the situation and a decrease in the number of queues at gas stations as of late July 2026.
How the fuel crisis began
Restrictions at gas stations arose against the backdrop of Ukrainian drone strikes on fuel and energy facilities—damage was sustained by the Moscow Oil Refinery and an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, which disrupted the logistics of supplies in the south of the country. Refineries were operating at maximum capacity, scheduled repairs were postponed, gasoline exports were restricted from April 1 to July 31, and a complete ban on diesel exports was considered as a separate measure. Priority in supplies was given to agricultural producers.
At the peak of the crisis, limits were in effect in more than 20 regions:
In Saratov Oblast, from June 23 to 30, no more than 30 liters of gasoline were sold per vehicle;
In Omsk Oblast—up to 40 liters of gasoline and 80 liters of diesel in cities;
At Lukoil gas stations in Voronezh Oblast—30 liters of gasoline and 60 liters of diesel in cities, 60 and 200 liters respectively on highways;
In Penza Oblast, refueling up to 100 liters of gasoline and 200 liters of diesel was allowed;
In Samara and Kurgan Oblasts, limits of 40 liters of gasoline and 80–100 liters of diesel were in effect;
In Lipetsk Oblast from June 24 to 28—no more than 30 liters of gasoline.
Official agencies explained the limits at gas stations as a tool to curb panic buying, which had increased by 20–30%. At the same time, the geography of the restrictions—from Crimea to Irkutsk Oblast—was seen as a sign of the systemic nature of the problem. Against this backdrop, the option of purchasing fuel from China for eastern regions was also discussed. However, gasoline exports from China are strictly regulated by quotas for state-owned companies Sinopec and CNPC, and no large confirmed shipments across the land border were recorded.
AI Opinion
From the perspective of machine data analysis, the easing of retail limits reflects stabilization in the distribution chain but does not eliminate the root cause of the shortage—the state of oil refining. According to Reuters agency estimates, drone attacks have disabled at least 17% of Russian oil refining capacity, or 1.1 million barrels per day—a scale comparable to the consequences of major sanctions restrictions in previous years.
Lifting limits in some regions against the backdrop of ongoing pressure on refining capacities creates the risk of another round of restrictions in the fall, if plant repairs fail to compensate for the lost volumes by the start of the heating season. Will the current stabilization prove sustainable, or will regions return to a regime of limits with the next wave of attacks?
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