Gasoline with impurities: Russia started diluting fuel amid shortages after Ukrainian strikes
16 October 20:18
Diluted gasoline has appeared at Russian gas stations, The Moscow Times reports , citing Yuri Valk, head of the Union of Russian Car Services, "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to him, fuel producers are reducing the quality by adding chemical additives to increase the octane rating. This is due to the shortage of gasoline and the inability to raise prices.
What the industry says
Yuriy Valko explained that fraud with gasoline has already led to massive car breakdowns, particularly of Chinese Geely models, whose owners complain of engine problems.
“Manufacturers have started saving on quality because they cannot raise prices. Many are increasing the octane number by adding additives due to the economic situation amid shortages in some regions,” he said.
Such practices, according to the expert, are reminiscent of the early 2000s, when similar cases were already recorded at some Russian gas stations.
Why this is happening
The fuel shortage in Russia has worsened after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.
According to Russian media, 20 regions and the occupied territories of Ukraine experienced fuel supply disruptions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that Russia had lost up to 20% of its fuel reserves as a result of Ukrainian strikes, and that disruptions had already been recorded in 57 regions of the country, or more than half of them.
How the Russian authorities are reacting
The Russian government has extended the temporary ban on gasoline exports and imposed restrictions on other fuels until the end of 2025.
This is supposed to stabilize the domestic market, but in fact reduces foreign exchange earnings from exports and increases internal tensions between suppliers and refiners.
What can this lead to?
Analysts note that gasoline dilution not only harms cars but also undermines consumer confidence in the fuel market.
If the shortage continues, it could
- lead to the growth of the black market for fuel,
- increase the number of accidents and car breakdowns
- deepen the internal crisis in Russia’s oil sector, which is already operating on the brink due to sanctions and military losses.
As a reminder, since the beginning of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries in early 2024, a number of large enterprises – in particular, in Ufa, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and the Afipsk refinery – have been damaged.
These attacks caused a sharp decline in gasoline and diesel production.
Despite the Kremlin’s statements about “market stability,” experts estimate that Russia’s domestic reserves are running out, and new technologies for refinery repairs are not available due to sanctions.
The Russian Ministry of Energy does not officially confirm the fact of fuel counterfeiting, but specialized associations warn that if the situation does not change, Russia may face the deepest fuel crisis in the last decade in winter.
