Russian fuel shortages deepen after Ukrainian strike on major oil terminal

Tuesday 09 June 2026 - 07:59

By: Dakir Madiha

Russian fuel shortages deepen after Ukrainian strike on major oil terminal

Russia has acknowledged fuel supply disruptions across several southern regions after a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks targeted key energy infrastructure, including one of the country's largest oil terminals on the Black Sea coast. The Russian Energy Ministry said fuel and energy companies were facing increased aerial attacks that had created temporary supply difficulties, prompting authorities to establish a special crisis task force to coordinate the response.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the existence of supply problems, while also blaming what he described as panic buying by consumers. The admission comes as Russia's refining sector faces growing pressure from repeated strikes on oil facilities. Refinery output fell to 4.58 million barrels per day in May, down 13 percent from a year earlier and marking the lowest production level since October 2009.

The decline in refining activity has led Moscow to impose a ban on kerosene exports from June 1 through November 30 in an effort to protect domestic fuel supplies during the peak summer travel season. The measure reflects broader concerns over maintaining adequate inventories as attacks increasingly target strategic energy assets and transport infrastructure.

One of the most significant incidents occurred overnight on June 7 and 8 when Ukrainian drones struck the Grushova tank farm, also known as Sheskharis, near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The facility is among the largest oil transshipment complexes in southern Russia. Residents reported dozens of explosions before a large fire broke out. Satellite monitoring systems detected thermal anomalies at the site, while Russian authorities deployed more than 130 firefighters and dozens of vehicles to contain the blaze. Officials reported no casualties.

Additional damage was reported in the Volgograd region, where drone debris sparked a fire at a major oil pumping station. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 310 Ukrainian drones within a 12 hour period, underscoring the scale of the latest wave of attacks.

The fuel disruption has spread beyond frontline areas. Authorities in Krasnodar reported gasoline shortages at more than 500 service stations that rely on spot fuel purchases rather than long-term supply contracts. Officials in Rostov warned of possible supply interruptions, while authorities in Russian-controlled Crimea acknowledged serious fuel delivery challenges.

Reports of rationing measures and restrictions on filling fuel containers have also emerged in regions including Voronezh, Orel and Tomsk. Ukrainian drone operations have further complicated logistics by targeting the federal R-280 Novorossiya highway, a key land corridor linking Russia to Crimea. The sustained attacks have increased pressure on fuel distribution networks and exposed vulnerabilities in Russia's domestic energy supply chain.