Russia’s President Vladimir Putin admits that the country is still struggling with problems in its fuel supply following Ukraine’s successful attacks on oil facilities. On social media, videos are circulating showing long queues at fuel stations in Russia.

At a meeting with government officials and representatives of the energy sector, he emphasized that the situation affects both individuals and businesses, while a special task force is now working continuously to secure deliveries across the country.

“You are well aware that problems persist for both motorists and businesses. Unfortunately, there are still queues at gas stations,” he said, adding:

“We must minimize the effects of terrorist attacks on our civilian targets and our infrastructure.”

According to Putin, the disruptions are partly linked to Ukrainian drone attacks that for some time have targeted Russian oil facilities. He stressed that the authorities need to limit the impact of the attacks on civilian infrastructure in order to restore a stable fuel supply. This is reported by news agency Reuters.

Putin stated that Russia still has gasoline stocks of about 1.7 million tons, while reserves are now being used to meet increased demand and alleviate regional shortages. He also said that gasoline production is expected to be higher in July than in June, which should help improve fuel availability.

At the same time, Russia is considering additional measures to strengthen the domestic market. One option is to introduce a temporary ban on diesel exports, an issue that has been discussed for some time. However, no final decision has yet been announced.

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Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, according to Russian news agency Interfax, stated that he does not currently see any need for an export ban on diesel.

Putin also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the agricultural sector gets sufficient amounts of fuel ahead of the ongoing harvest season. According to him, planned deliveries to farms must be made on schedule in order not to risk this year’s harvest.

The president also noted that motorists still face problems in many parts of the country and that queues at gas stations occur in certain regions.

He pointed out that the situation requires long-term and coordinated efforts to increase the availability of fuel while keeping prices at a reasonable level.

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