Russia has begun rationing gasoline after Ukraine restarted its bombing campaign against its oil refineries, according to statements from regional governors across the country.
Moscow’s state-owned energy company Rosneft imposed restrictions at its gas stations in Russia’s eastern Krasnoyarsk region, Russian daily Kommersant reported on Nov. 9, citing on-site sources and the Yandex Zapravki app.
Customers in Krasnoyarsk can buy up to 50 liters (13.2 gallons) of standard gasoline and 30 liters (7.9 gallons) of premium per transaction.
The diesel fuel limit is 100 liters (26.4 gallons) per customer, and sales of gasoline or diesel in canisters have been completely stopped.
According to the Krasnoyarsk Krai Ministry of Industry and Trade, other major retail chains have not imposed restrictions on gasoline sales.
The governor of Russia’s northwestern Karelia region, Artur Parfenchikov, said on Nov. 8 that Rosneft filling stations along highways were introducing restrictions, capping purchases at 30 liters of gasoline and 50 liters of diesel, and suspending fuel sales in canisters.
“I am fully aware that these restrictions may cause inconvenience both to the republic’s residents and to our business owners, whose work depends on logistics. However, under the current circumstances, these measures are necessary,” he said in a Nov. 8 post on Telegram.
“Our main priority at present is to prevent panic buying, ensure the even distribution of fuel, and maintain the stable operation of all petrol stations in order to avoid disruptions.”
Leningrad Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko also announced restrictions in the area on Nov. 9, according to Russian state news agency TASS, saying in a post on the Max messenger app that residents would be permitted to purchase 30 liters (7.9 gallons) of gasoline and 50 liters (13.2 gallons) of diesel in single transactions.
In an attack over the night of Nov. 8–9, Ukraine hit Russia’s second-largest oil refinery in the northwestern town of Kirishi, Drozdenko said on Monday, according to Russian state daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Ukraine has sharply stepped up attacks on Russian refineries after a so-called “energy ceasefire” announced by President Donald Trump in October failed to take hold.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Nov. 6 post on X that the operation against Russian refineries continues “in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities.”
“Our power plants, energy grids, heating systems, water supply facilities, civilian logistics—all of this is under constant strikes by ‘Shaheds’ and missiles,” he added, accusing Moscow of having “abandoned de-escalation steps.”
As a consequence, Zelenskyy said Kyiv would continue its assault on Russia’s oil industry to create “motivation for real negotiations.”
The strikes and fuel-rationing measures come as trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States get underway in the United Arab Emirates.
Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission met separately in Abu Dhabi before U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials began trilateral talks.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said participants discussed “how to build upon existing European security institutions and agreements” after the Ukraine war. He added that they also made clear NATO would remain central to Euro-Atlantic collective defense.
Witkoff said participants emphasized that any future arrangements aimed at ending the war must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to make independent decisions. They also stressed the need for “credible security guarantees” for Kyiv.
The two-day session marked the first trilateral meeting between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia since negotiations in Geneva ended without an agreement in February.
Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.
