After strikes on refineries, gasoline coupons: how Ukraine is changing rf’s fuel landscape
20 August 15:32
During August, Ukrainian drones carried out a series of targeted attacks on key Russian oil refineries and fuel infrastructure facilities. As a result of the strikes, a number of refineries stopped operations, large-scale fires broke out, and oil transportation via the Druzhba pipeline was temporarily halted. Against the backdrop of these events, several regions of Russia have already begun to restrict gasoline sales – fuel is being released on coupons for businesses, and AI-95 prices are skyrocketing, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Ukrainian strikes on refineries: August blitzkrieg
Since the beginning of the month, Russia has lost a significant portion of its refining capacity due to unprecedented Ukrainian drone attacks.
- on August 2, the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region was halted;
- on August 7-8, strikes on the Afip refinery and a refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban (Krasnodar Krai) caused fires;
- august 10, the Saratov refinery was hit;
- on August 15, drones hit the Syzran refinery and the Port Olya-4 cargo ship, which was carrying drone components and ammunition;
- on August 16 and 19, the Volgograd refinery of Lukoil was under massive attacks – powerful explosions and fires were recorded;
- separately, on August 18, an attack on a pumping station in the Tambov region stopped the transit of oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia and Hungary.
In total, in just three weeks, Ukraine has temporarily put more than 13% of Russia’s refining capacity out of service, according to Russian media. This is already having a tangible impact on the fuel market in Russia itself.
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Gasoline coupons and shortages in Crimea and Transbaikalia
Due to dwindling fuel stocks and disruptions in refinery operations, some regions of Russia have begun to restrict gasoline sales.
According to Russian media reports, in Crimea AI-95 fuel has almost disappeared from gas stations: where there is still gasoline, it is sold mainly “on coupons from enterprises.” The price has risen to 69.95 rubles per liter, while the average price in Russia is about 63 rubles.
The situation is similar in Transbaikalia: in the cities of Krasnokamensk and Borzya 95 gasoline is sold only to organizations, while there is no free sale for the population. Back in early August, some gas stations limited fuel sales to only ten liters per car.
According to official data, in July 2025 AI-95 rose in price by 8%, and only for the week of August 5-11 – by another 2.2%. In total, since the beginning of the year, gasoline prices in Russia have already soared by almost 47%.
Thus, the august AFU strikes on refineries not only significantly reduced russian refining capacity, but also directly affected the daily lives of russian citizens: the country is once again returning to the “coupon times” for gasoline.
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