Russia's Fuel Crunch Forces Lower Standards and Import Talks

Russia is facing a widening gasoline shortage that has reached more than two dozen regions and forced visible compromises on supply. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow was in contact with other countries about possible fuel imports, saying purchases were possible if an acceptable price could be agreed.

The shortage is affecting fuel stations and vehicles. Russian motorists have reported engines malfunctioning, with warning lights, knocking and power loss, after authorities permitted the sale of older Euro-3 grade gasoline in place of the cleaner Euro-5 standard, according to a Russian financial channel. The Moscow Times reported that gasoline output has fallen about 25% from a year earlier and that rationing now affects a majority of Russian regions, driven by Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries.

The episode exposes a structural limit in Russia's war economy. A country that ranks among the world's largest oil exporters is now considering importing refined fuel, the result of strikes that have removed refining capacity faster than it can be rebuilt. Allowing lower-quality fuel keeps stations supplied in the short term, but it shifts the cost onto consumers and damages the vehicles the economy depends on.