Russia fuel limits ease after refinery strikes

Several Russian regions have begun easing limits on petrol sales after Ukrainian strikes on refineries contributed to nationwide shortages.

Local media and officials reported that some restrictions were being relaxed in recent days. In Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Lukoil and Teboil removed limits on how much drivers could buy in one transaction.

In the Omsk region of Siberia, where a refinery was also hit, Governor Vitaly Khotsenko said on Tuesday that all restrictions had been lifted. Easing measures were also reported in the Rostov and Stavropol regions.

Almost all Russian regions had introduced some form of limit on petrol sales since the start of June, mostly capping how much fuel could be sold to one buyer.

Ukrainian drones hit the Moscow oil refinery in June. Officials in Kyiv say strikes on Russian energy sites are retaliation for Moscow's drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, had sought to calm the domestic market and urged customers not to panic buy. But drivers faced hours-long queues in parts of the country, and videos of fights at fuel stations circulated on social media.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at the weekend that the situation was "gradually stabilising" after a number of plants resumed operations.