Key facts
- Ukraine conducted multiple drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel infrastructure in June 2026.
- The attacks resulted in significant gasoline shortages and panic buying across Russia.
- The Moscow Oil Refinery, the largest fuel supplier for the capital, sustained damage requiring extensive repairs.
- Russia has begun importing gasoline from India to mitigate the supply crunch.
- Public reaction on Russian social media indicates widespread discontent and distrust in authorities.
- The strikes have raised concerns about potential disruptions to Russia's agricultural harvest due to diesel shortages.
Ukraine's sustained drone attacks throughout June 2026 have significantly disrupted Russia's oil refining capabilities, leading to widespread gasoline shortages and panic buying. Strikes targeted major facilities, including the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, the Kstovo refinery, infrastructure in Volgograd Oblast, and critically, the Moscow Oil Refinery, which supplies the capital.
The damage has halted operations at several refineries, with estimates suggesting up to one-third of Russia's refining capacity could be offline. The Moscow refinery alone is expected to require at least six months of repairs. The reach of the attacks, extending to Tyumen over 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, has also stretched Russian air defenses.
In response to the supply crunch, Russia has reportedly begun importing gasoline from India. The situation has prompted widespread queues at gas stations across the country, even in regions not directly targeted by strikes, fueling public anxiety and distrust in the government's ability to manage the crisis. Discussions on Russian social media platforms reveal a mix of anger, disbelief, and demands for harsher retaliation, alongside criticism of domestic authorities and President Vladimir Putin.
Beyond gasoline, concerns are mounting about a potential disruption to the upcoming harvest campaign due to a shortage of diesel fuel. The combination of infrastructure damage and public panic has underscored the vulnerability of Russia's energy sector.