Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that queues have formed at fuel stations across the country and that there are shortages of various types of fuel due to Ukraine's attacks on energy infrastructure.
Speaking at a meeting with energy sector leaders, Putin said, "Unfortunately, there are still queues at gas stations and the desired quality of gasoline is not always available. We are also aware of the difficulties faced by agricultural producers and farms during the summer months."
Noting that Russia has been tapping into its fuel reserves, Putin said the amount of reserves had decreased by about 4 percent compared to the previous year.
Putin also stated, "In the interests of domestic consumers, a temporary full ban has been imposed on gasoline and jet fuel exports. The need for a full ban on diesel fuel exports is also being assessed."
The Russian leader said they plan to increase production and that efforts to "minimize" the impact of Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure are ongoing.
Ukraine's successive refinery attacks
Ukraine regularly attacks Russia's energy infrastructure to weaken Moscow's ability to sustain the war. Putin first commented publicly on Ukraine's infrastructure attacks on June 23. That statement came after Ukraine's dramatic successive attacks on the Moscow Oil Refinery on June 16 and 18.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the night of June 28 that oil refineries in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and Yaroslavl Oblast had been struck. Zelensky said, "We will continue our operations that weaken Russia's ability to sustain this war. Every long-range sanction reduces the resources feeding Russia's war machine and brings us one step closer to peace."
