Moscow fuel queues return after Ukraine refinery strike

Drivers queued at several Moscow petrol stations on Wednesday as local shortages of some fuel types reemerged after recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

AFP journalists saw dozens of cars waiting for fuel at several stations in the Russian capital. Some stations were out of certain blends, but there were no signs of mass shortages and the scarcity was not described as critical.

Ukraine last week hit a major refinery in Yaroslavl, north of Moscow. Earlier in the summer, Ukrainian drone strikes on major Russian refineries were followed by shortages and rationing across much of Russia.

AFP calculations based on local announcements showed that at one point in early July, about 90 percent of Russia's regions had imposed fuel purchase limits, mostly maximum volume rules. The situation had eased at the end of July before queues and local shortages returned in Moscow in recent days.

Several drivers told AFP they were worried about renewed shortages, higher petrol prices or having to use lower-grade fuel. Others said they expected authorities to prevent the capital from running dry.