Russia raids garages in search of hidden gasoline amid fuel crisis
Photo: Russian police (Getty Images)
Russia has begun inspecting private garages and homes for gasoline stockpiles in one of its regions. Amid the ongoing fuel crisis, residents caught stockpiling gasoline are facing fines, according to The Moscow Times.
Russia starts searching for gasoline stockpiles
Authorities in Russia's Pskov region have launched inspections of private homes and garage cooperatives to identify large gasoline reserves stored by residents.
According to regional Governor Mikhail Vedernikov, the inspections uncovered significant fuel stockpiles kept inside garages. He said such storage violates fire safety regulations.
Administrative reports have been filed against all violators, who face fines ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles.
Fuel shortages persist
Although the governor claimed the fuel supply situation is gradually improving, he acknowledged that most districts in the region continue to experience shortages of AI-95 gasoline.
The ongoing lack of fuel has prompted authorities to pay closer attention to private gasoline reserves that residents have begun accumulating on their own.
Why the shortages emerged
Russia's fuel market has come under increasing pressure following repeated Ukrainian strikes on the country's oil refining infrastructure. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian oil refineries and fuel storage facilities, disrupting operations at several sites.
As a result, several Russian regions have reported fuel supply disruptions, rising prices, and shortages of certain gasoline grades. Against this backdrop, authorities have tightened oversight of privately stored fuel.
Despite repeated claims by Russian officials that the domestic fuel market has stabilized, supply problems persist. While the government says deliveries of petroleum products have increased, many regions continue to report shortages of specific fuel grades, higher prices, and declining production.
