Russian gasoline production drops following drone strikes on refineries

By the end of August 2026, gasoline production in Russia fell to approximately 70% of domestic demand levels. This decline was triggered by a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on critical energy infrastructure, which forced the suspension of operations at several major refineries, including facilities in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, and Yaroslavl. The reduction in output has effectively returned the domestic fuel supply to the crisis levels seen in early July.

The country has been battling a fuel shortage since May, characterized by regional supply gaps and the implementation of restrictive measures. While some local authorities briefly eased sales restrictions in late July, the new production drop has forced the reintroduction of measures such as transaction limits per customer and fuel sales schedules linked to vehicle license plates. Consequently, Russia has been compelled to increase imports of petroleum products to stabilize the domestic market.

The ongoing conflict has seen Ukraine escalate its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure with the explicit goal of curbing Moscow’s hydrocarbon export revenues. As the situation remains fluid, authorities are continuing to manage regional shortages, though the long-term impact on supply chains remains a subject of ongoing concern for the energy sector.