Fuel Supply Disruptions and Panic-Buying Hit Southern Russian Region
Impact of Ukrainian Strikes on Fuel Supply in Southern Russia
MOSCOW, June 9 (Reuters) - Disruptions to fuel supplies have triggered panic-buying in Russia's Krasnodar region, the governor said, as Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure hit fuel deliveries across several southern regions and Russian-held Crimea.
Ukraine has for months targeted Russian refineries, pipelines, and fuel depots in an effort to curb Moscow's ability to finance its more than four-year war in Ukraine. Recent long lines for gasoline in some areas underscore the sensitive domestic fallout from the strikes.
Recent Attacks and Emergency Response
On Tuesday, emergency services said a blaze at an oil depot in the town of Ust-Labinsk in the Krasnodar region — ignited by a drone attack on Saturday — had been extinguished.
Some smaller gas stations in the southwest of Krasnodar region, which borders Crimea, are short of fuel, but the situation is under control, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram on Monday evening.
Panic-Buying and Temporary Shortages
"Against the backdrop of a difficult situation in neighbouring regions, many people decided to stock up on gasoline, which caused artificial panic buying," he said, adding that any supply difficulties were temporary and distributors were taking steps to prevent long-term shortages.
Russia's Energy Ministry said a recent surge in Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities had caused temporary supply difficulties in several southern regions. It said a task force had been set up to help stabilise the sector nationwide.
Crimea Tightens Fuel Rationing
CRIMEA TIGHTENS FUEL RATIONING
Crimea has been rationing fuel since the end of May and tightened restrictions further last Thursday, suspending all cash sales of gasoline and the issuance of new coupons.
Challenges for Krasnodar Region and Tourism
The supply squeeze poses a challenge for the Krasnodar region as the summer season approaches, with tourists driving to its popular Black Sea coast expected to push up fuel demand.
At the same time, the wider security situation is already weighing on tourism. Repeated flight restrictions at Sochi airport — the region's main air gateway — have led to delays and cancellations.
Sales for Sochi as a destination are down 20-30% compared with 2025, the Russian tour operators' association ATOR said on Monday, while both the central bank and a banking lobby have moved their annual conferences from the resort this year.
Public Response and Reports from the Region
Discussing the governor's comments, some users on a regional Telegram channel questioned his description of the situation. One posted a photo of "NO FUEL" signs on pumps at a gas station run by Lukoil in the city of Krasnodar.
Another wrote: "For the past three days, the gas station next door has had gasoline for only two to three hours at a time ... I’ve never seen anything like it."
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Ros Russell)
