Symbolic imageRussian regions ration fuel after strikes on refineries
Russia's government said on Friday that fuel supply to filling stations remains strained in several regions. Two are now rationing sales.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak chaired a meeting on the fuel market on Friday, 14 August, after which the cabinet said oil companies were increasing deliveries to the most vulnerable regions and that pump prices would be monitored; the antimonopoly service reported proceedings over several cases of price gouging. Kaluga region begins rationing by number plate on Saturday, and Astrakhan limits sales to 40 litres per vehicle, the two governors told Bloomberg. Krasnodar's governor said oil companies had again begun restricting quantities sold and shortening station opening hours.
Black Sea terminal stopped
The Sheskharis terminal at Novorossiysk, which ships about 700,000 barrels of crude a day, suspended loading and intake after its tanks filled, sources told Reuters; a tanker had turned back to open sea early on 14 August over the drone threat.
Kyiv's refinery campaign
Ukraine has hit 11 of Russia's 34 large refineries since the start of August, by a Bloomberg count cited by Le Monde; authorities said this week one damaged plant must stay shut for months. Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes limit Russia's war potential.
Other opinions
TASS reports the cabinet's supply measures and says farms have enough fuel for the harvest, without mentioning the Ukrainian strikes Le Monde names as the cause.