One of Russia's Far East regions left without gasoline
Illustrative photo: the only gas station in Okhotsk closed back in March (Getty Images)
Russia is facing a severe gasoline shortage in the Far East amid Ukrainian drone strikes. For example, there is no gasoline at all in the Okhotsky district of the Khabarovsk region, The Moscow Times reports.
The outlet notes that the Okhotsky district is the most remote area of the region and is comparable in size to the Murmansk or Vologda regions. Despite this, since 2018, there has been only one private gas station, which stopped selling fuel in March.
The only way to supply fuel to the area is by sea, as part of the so-called northern delivery program from late spring to late autumn. However, due to shortages, fuel deliveries to the region are generally limited, and the situation in Okhotsk is particularly difficult — fuel is now allocated only for hospitals and municipal services.
According to the report, residents are forced to buy fuel from resellers, paying 30,000–35,000 rubles for a 200-liter barrel, or 150–170 rubles per liter, significantly higher than the national average in Russia.
Local authorities said that out of an annual demand of at least 900 tons of gasoline, only 500 tons have been delivered, and reserves are nearly exhausted. Residents warn that diesel will soon disappear from sale as well, as it is already in short supply.
According to the outlet, authorities have introduced limits on fuel sales to the public. Currently, no more than 20 liters per person per day (one canister) can be purchased.
Attacks on Russian oil infrastructure
In recent days, Ukraine has significantly intensified strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. In particular, on March 29, the SBU reported a successful strike on the oil terminal infrastructure at the port of Ust-Luga.
Another attack took place on the night of March 31. Explosions and heavy gunfire were again reported over Ust-Luga, as well as in the Kirishsky, Luzhsky, and Tosnensky districts.
On March 28, it was reported that the Yaroslavl oil refinery, strategically important for supplying fuel to Russian military forces, had been struck. This followed an earlier attack on March 26 on the Kirishi refinery in the Leningrad region, one of Russia’s three largest refineries, which caused a large-scale fire.
On the night of April 2, a major fire broke out at an oil refinery in Ufa after a drone attack. This facility has been targeted before — a previous strike was recorded on March 23.
