Overview

• Crimea’s Russia-installed leader Sergej Aksjonow acknowledged petrol shortages and said AI-95 supplies should resume within days and AI-92 within two weeks.
• Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said gasoline exports are halted through year-end and diesel exports by non-producers will also be restricted through year-end.
• Traders and local outlets report private gas stations in multiple regions, including the Far East and the peninsula, have run out of AI-92 and AI-95 or temporarily closed.
• Industry reporting indicates about 16 refineries and export sites have been hit since August, with refining output down by roughly one fifth on some days.
• Rising fuel prices and constrained exports are adding fiscal pressure, and the government plans to raise VAT to 22 percent to help finance war spending.