Moscow Enforces Fuel Rationing Amid Ongoing Drone Threats
WHO:
UNITED24 Media - Ukraine’s Armed Forces are conducting drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure.
Meduza - The Russian Defense Ministry reported on the drone attacks.
WHAT:
UNITED24 Media - The Moscow Times reported that the supply constraints deepened when the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery halted operations, which typically supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow’s fuel.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - In May alone, Ukraine carried out at least 16 attacks on fuel-producing facilities in Russia, targeting eight of its 10 biggest refineries.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - The Moscow refinery can normally process 11 million metric tons of oil a year and covers a significant share of Moscow's supply of gasoline.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Customers in some regions are limited to as little as 20 liters of gas when available, with reports of restrictions on how much fuel can be purchased by civilians.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Tatneft has imposed rationing across its hundreds of gas stations throughout Russia, limiting each customer to 30 liters of petrol at a time.
UNITED24 Media - Ukraine has conducted at least 40 successful drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure since the beginning of the year.
UNITED24 Media - The Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery halted operations due to drone strikes, which typically supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow’s fuel.
UNITED24 Media - An estimated 600,000 barrels per day have been removed from Russia’s domestic oil refining capacity due to the strikes.
UNITED24 Media - Russia’s total refining volume dropped below 4 million barrels per day, marking a 21-year low.
UNITED24 Media - Retail fuel prices in Russia have risen for five consecutive weeks, growing at twice the rate of domestic inflation.
Meduza - The June 16 and June 18 strikes knocked out both primary oil distillation units at the Moscow oil refinery.
Meduza - The first strike on June 16 damaged one of the two atmospheric vacuum distillation units (AVTs) at the refinery, which has a primary processing capacity of six million tons of oil per year.
Meduza - The June 18 strike hit the second unit and other facilities at the plant, likely halting processing entirely for several days.
WHERE:
UNITED24 Media - The strikes are affecting oil infrastructure in Moscow and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Meduza - The strikes occurred at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery in southeastern Moscow.
WHEN:
UNITED24 Media - The Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery halted operations on June 16.
UNITED24 Media - A subsequent strike occurred on June 18.
Meduza - The first strike on the refinery was on June 16, and the second was on June 18.
WHY:
UNITED24 Media - The drone strike campaign is aimed at reducing Russian oil refining capacity and creating fuel shortages.
Meduza - Ukraine’s Armed Forces are targeting oil refineries to apply sustained pressure on the Russian economy.
HOW:
Meduza - The June 18 strike involved a substantial drone formation, with the Russian Defense Ministry claiming nearly a thousand UAVs were shot down, although these claims are considered not credible.
UNITED24 Media - The Russian government has lowered minimum environmental quality standards for commercial gasoline to address supply constraints.
UNITED24 Media - The Kremlin is considering regulatory changes to allow oil corporations to reduce mandatory exchange-traded sales volumes.
UNITED24 Media - Moscow has begun importing gasoline by sea from Asia through its western ports to mitigate the fuel deficit.
(UPDATED June 20, 2026 01:41 UTC)
The Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery has halted operations, which typically supplies up to 40 percent of Moscow's fuel, deepening supply constraints in the region. In May, Ukraine conducted at least 16 attacks on fuel-producing facilities in Russia, targeting eight of its ten largest refineries, leading to significant fuel shortages. As a result, customers in some areas are facing strict limits on fuel purchases, with Tatneft imposing a cap of 30 liters of petrol per customer at its gas stations.
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(UPDATED June 19, 2026 19:31 UTC)
Ukraine’s Armed Forces have conducted at least 40 successful drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure this year, significantly impacting operations at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery, which has halted processing entirely due to recent attacks. These strikes have removed an estimated 600,000 barrels per day from Russia’s domestic oil refining capacity, causing the country’s total refining volume to drop below 4 million barrels per day, a level not seen in 21 years. In response to fuel shortages, the Russian government is lowering environmental quality standards for gasoline and considering regulatory changes to allow oil companies to adjust their sales volumes.