Russian Police Arrest Fuel Protesters in 12 Regions as Ukraine Strikes Knock Out Nearly 1/3 of Refineries
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Aug 21
Russian Police Arrest Fuel Protesters in 12 Regions as Ukraine Strikes Knock Out Nearly 1/3 of Refineries
2 articles · Updated · The Independent · Aug 21
Summary
Five Volgograd residents were detained and fined after filming a video appeal over dry pumps and officials’ priority fuel cards, as Russia widened a crackdown on public complaints about shortages.
Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign has disabled nearly a third of Russia’s major refineries since early August, forcing fuel caps of 50 to 60 litres per vehicle and leaving motorists in some regions waiting up to 30 hours.
At least 12 regions have reported gridlocked petrol stations and fights between drivers, while Perm resident Lev Samolovskikh was fined 10,000 roubles for mentioning a planned protest in a Telegram channel with 44 subscribers.
July crude processing fell to 3.6 million barrels a day—the lowest since May 2000 and about a third below the seasonal average—disrupting supplies for an estimated 50 million people.
Moscow has responded with export bans, fuel imports and police guards at stations, but analysts say the shortages are becoming one of Vladimir Putin’s biggest domestic pressures since the war began.