Putin's plan to protect Moscow and St. Petersburg from the crisis has failed spectacularly

The gasoline crisis in Russia has reached Moscow and St. Petersburg. Authorities extended restrictions on gasoline exports, but the shortage intensified: by August 18, fuel was available at only 28% of gas stations. Moscow began purchasing petroleum products abroad, including from India. ISW analysts note that the spread of the crisis to the capital indicates the Kremlin's limited ability to compensate for the consequences of strikes on oil infrastructure.

The gasoline crisis in Russia has reached Moscow and St. Petersburg. Authorities extended restrictions on gasoline exports, but this did not stop a new escalation of the fuel shortage. According to a report by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), by August 18, gasoline could be purchased at only about 28% of the country's gas stations, compared to about 41% a week earlier. The problems affected the Moscow, Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, and other regions, as well as Tatarstan. Gazprom Neft confirmed the introduction of restrictions on the volume of gasoline sales at individual Moscow gas stations. Amid the fuel shortage, Moscow is forced to seek additional volumes of petroleum products abroad, including in Asian states. The first batch of gasoline from India arrived in Russia on August 5. ISW analysts note that the spread of fuel disruptions to Moscow indicates that the authorities' ability to compensate for the consequences of attacks on oil infrastructure is becoming more limited. The shortage also complicates the operation of agricultural machinery and the transport and logistics sector.