Several regions in Russia, as well as parts of Ukraine under Russian control, are reporting gasoline shortages following a wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries this month, combined with a seasonal surge in fuel demand.

On July 28, Russia imposed a ban on gasoline exports in an effort to prevent shortages during the period of peak demand caused by summer travel and grain harvesting. However, market insiders warned that this measure would not be enough to avoid fuel scarcity.

The problem, they noted, has been exacerbated by bottlenecks in supply chains, limited domestic reserves, and ongoing maintenance work at refineries.

Since the beginning of August, Ukraine has targeted several Russian refineries—including those in Novokuibyshevsk, Syzran, Ryazan, and Volgograd—in retaliation for Moscow’s missile and drone strikes.

In the Primorye region of Russia’s Far East, local media reported kilometer-long lines at gas stations as drivers waited to fill their tanks. Authorities there blamed the situation on tourists.

The oil company NNK announced that many of its gasoline tankers in the region had been immobilized for three to six hours on roads due to repair work on key highways, according to local outlets.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-appointed governor of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region—most of which is under Russian occupation—said today that retail gasoline sales in several areas are facing problems due to soaring demand and refinery maintenance.

“In the Zaporizhzhia region, fuel shortages are primarily due to supply chain issues and the threat of enemy attacks on fuel trains,” he stated.

Sergei Aksyonov, governor of Crimea—annexed by Russia in 2014—also admitted this week that fuel supply problems exist during an interview on local television.

“This is an objective situation, which may last for more than a month,” he said, adding that the issue will not be fully resolved until the war ends.