On June 28, in an interview released by the Kremlin, Putin stated, "It is clear that these attacks are causing problems for our infrastructure." He added, "There are certain shortages, but they are not at a critical level."
During a speech at a United Russia party event, Putin remarked, "We are going through a difficult time." He asserted that Russia must remain a strong and independent nation, claiming that the West is exerting unprecedented pressure on the country.
Given Russia's status as a major oil producer, these comments are considered unusual. Despite Western sanctions, Russia remains a key exporter of oil and natural gas, but the cumulative impact of attacks on its refineries is causing domestic gasoline supply issues.
In this context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed via X (formerly Twitter) that strikes had targeted the Slavyansk refinery in the Krasnodar region and a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, approximately 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
In Crimea, a state of emergency has been declared due to fuel shortages and power outages, while some regions in Russia have implemented restrictions on gasoline sales.
In response, Putin announced plans to enhance air defense capabilities and expedite the repair of damaged oil facilities. He also stated that increasing fuel imports would help address temporary shortages, emphasizing the importance of ensuring fuel supply to Crimea, which Russia annexed.
However, Putin made it clear that the military offensive would not cease despite the fuel crisis. He rejected Ukraine's proposal to halt long-range attacks, characterizing it as an attempt to relieve pressure on Russian forces, and reaffirmed the goal of maintaining control over the four regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—that Russia has declared annexed.
The Russian government is also taking additional measures to stabilize the domestic fuel market. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that gasoline imports are a key strategy, and special tax conditions have been established for this purpose. This situation highlights that even a major oil-producing nation like Russia is now reliant on foreign gasoline to meet domestic shortages.
Novak also explained that the mandatory sales ratio for gasoline on exchanges would be reduced from 15% to 10% of production. The government has decided to limit price fluctuations on exchanges to no more than 0.01 rubles per transaction. This is interpreted as a direct market intervention to prevent surging gasoline prices and supply instability.
These measures will be in effect from July 1 to September 30, coinciding with the summer season when fuel demand typically rises. Reports indicate that Russia has already requested the supply of 50,000 tons of AI-92 gasoline from Kazakhstan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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