Russia Faces Gasoline Shortage Amid Refinery Maintenance, Drone Attacks

⚡ AI Executive Summary

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak reported that domestic gasoline supplies are currently constrained while diesel and jet fuel inventories remain adequate. Several refineries have recently completed maintenance and resumed output, but the government maintains export restrictions on these fuels to prioritize domestic availability as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to target energy infrastructure. The diesel export ban, set to expire September 1, remains under review pending market conditions. This supply imbalance reflects the broader challenge facing Russia's refining sector: balancing geopolitical pressures, infrastructure vulnerability, and domestic energy security. For global energy markets, Russia's internal fuel constraints could have limited export implications, though any further disruption to Russian refinery capacity could affect regional fuel pricing and availability. The maintenance scheduling decisions Moscow makes will signal whether the country prioritizes near-term domestic stability or preparing for potential medium-term export recovery.