2025–2026 Russian fuel crisis

Uncommon card · No. 121528

Starting in August 2025, increased Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries during the Russo-Ukrainian War caused widespread damage and a significant decrease in production of refined products across the Russian oil industry, leading to a fuel crisis in the country. The crisis escalated in the middle of 2026, with Russian-controlled Crimea declaring a state of emergency in June and banning fuel sales. By July 2026, most of Russia's regions were experiencing fuel restrictions, directly affecting 50 million people, approximately 35% of the Russian population. Russia suspended civilian shipping through the Don–Azov Shipping Canal and the Kerch Strait following concentrated attacks on oil tankers in the Sea of Azov and surrounding anchorages. A decree was signed allowing certain oil refineries to lower their production quality standards from Euro-5 gasoline to Euro-3 gasoline until the end of the year.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Александр Подгорчук, CC BY 4.0