Motorists across Russia are fighting for fuel at petrol stations after Ukrainian drone strikes severely disrupted the country's oil infrastructure, leading to hours-long queues and violent confrontations. The domestic impact of President Vladimir Putin's war is increasingly felt by ordinary Russians, with many turning against the leader as shortages worsen.
Desperate queues and violence erupt
Drivers have reported waiting for hours or even days to fill up their vehicles. In Siberia, Tanya, 29, waited 13 hours to get half a tank of fuel. Referring to Putin, she said: 'He should stop this senseless conflict and let us live normally.'
Impatience has boiled over at several stations. In the mining town of Serov, Sverdlovsk Oblast, police were called after a male driver punched a woman while shouting at others. A fight also broke out at a forecourt in the western city of Ryazan. In Siberia, two women argued over queue position, with one shouting: 'So you should have stayed [in the queue]. Why the f*** you left [the queue], there is a queue, you dumb ass.' The row escalated as one woman told the other to 'go f*** yourself' and threatened to hit her 'in your f***ing face now.' In Irkutsk, a man in jeans and a black t-shirt repeatedly hit a fellow motorist through his car window in frustration.
Mafia groups exploit shortage
Mafia groups have sought to capitalise on the crisis, with police in one region intervening after a cabal was caught reselling fuel at triple its market price. The shortages have spread to all 83 regions of Russia, following Ukrainian drone strikes on critical targets, including the Moscow refinery of oil giant Gazprom Neft.
Putin acknowledges problems
Putin attempted to address the growing crisis, conceding that Ukrainian air strikes on infrastructure had caused 'problems' for motorists and businesses. He insisted fuel reserves were only four per cent down on last year. 'Unfortunately, there are also queues at [filling] stations, and it's not always possible to find the right type of gasoline,' he said. 'And, of course, we understand the difficulties faced by agricultural producers and farms in the summer period.'
The president pledged to increase supplies, including by sea to Crimea, which has almost run dry, after land routes were disrupted by Ukrainian forces. The situation continues to escalate as Russians grapple with the consequences of the ongoing conflict.
