The Crimean Peninsula is currently experiencing a critical gasoline shortage, leading to significant price increases, with a liter often approaching 90 rubles. In many areas, fuel is simply unavailable. This scarcity has compelled municipal transport services to adopt a coupon-based distribution system. Public concern is growing regarding the reasons behind this deficit and when the situation might return to normal.
On-the-Ground Perspective from Crimea
Crimean journalist Alexander Gorny highlights that the fuel crisis is widespread across the peninsula, affecting regions from Yevpatoria to Sevastopol. While major gas stations frequently report no available fuel, smaller private outlets offer 95-octane gasoline at exorbitant rates, ranging from 75 to 85 rubles per liter – substantially higher than prices observed earlier in the year. Drivers, particularly those navigating highways, face the frustration of finding themselves with empty tanks and no viable refueling options. The primary factors contributing to this deficit are identified as drone attacks on oil refineries, coupled with persistent logistical challenges and reduced supply volumes to the region.
The situation with fuel in Crimea is very tense. Initially, I received signals from Yevpatoria and Sevastopol about problems with the availability of 92nd and 95th fuel, and at many gas stations, it simply isn`t physically there. At small private stations, 92nd and 95th gasoline is available, but its cost has skyrocketed to astronomical figures in recent days. 92nd gasoline is around 66-67 rubles. As for 95th, at many stations, it`s now 76-80-85 rubles per liter. Of course, no one in Crimea expected such prices. We thought that after the tourist season ended, the situation on the fuel market would stabilize. We saw this in the availability of fuel at gas stations like ATAN, TES, Leto. And we saw that at these stations, the situation had leveled out, although prices had risen quite seriously, up to 72-73 rubles per liter for 95th, but then unclear events began for us. Many of my acquaintances who are now driving around Crimea report that it`s a huge problem to refuel on the highway, because they say you pass one, three, four, five gas stations, and there`s no fuel, and the tank is already empty, and people are ready to refuel at any price, just to get fuel. In some regions, there is information that gasoline is issued for municipal transport by coupons, but in the Feodosia region, what I see now at systemic gas stations, there is no 92nd or 95th fuel. At small gas stations, the cost of 95th fuel ranges from 76 to 80 rubles per liter. In August, when we observed the peak of the tourist season and problems with fuel availability arose, the cost of gasoline was 68-69 rubles per liter, and it seemed like a lot to us, because gasoline had risen in price by an average of 3-4 rubles per liter. We are discussing the reasons for the lack of fuel. Officially, the authorities tell us nothing, but at gas stations, when you talk to the management, you hear that the amount of fuel for the peninsula is limited, that not enough is being supplied, and they see the reasons, of course, in the damage caused to our oil refineries. And, as a consequence, problems with logistics and, accordingly, problems with fuel availability. Perhaps this situation will be handled manually, but people now have very bad feelings about the prospects.
Oleg, a resident of Kerch, corroborated the scarcity, stating that only diesel fuel is available in his city, with gasoline solely accessible via coupons. He expressed deep concern about his ability to transport his disabled child to school, highlighting the personal impact of the crisis. «Diesel fuel is available, but gasoline is a problem. Some stations dispense fuel by coupons. In principle, you can no longer find gasoline in the city. You buy coupons, one coupon for 20 liters. You come to the gas station, give the coupon, and they fill you up with 20 liters. That`s how we`ll be refueling for the foreseeable future. My child is disabled; I need to take him to school by car because we live in a village and the school is in the city. Now the gasoline will run out, then it`ll be by bus, but buses won`t be able to run for long either if there`s no gasoline. People say there simply isn`t any, and there might not be any in the near future. If you ask at gas stations, they themselves don`t know,» Oleg explained.
Taxi driver Nikolay, operating routes between Feodosia and Koktebel, noted a modest increase in fares (from 700 to 800 rubles for his route). Despite the challenges, he confirmed that taxi drivers continue to operate, driven by necessity. While 95th and 92nd octane gasoline can still be found in Feodosia, its availability is inconsistent. He anticipates that if fuel prices continue to escalate, taxi fares could rise further, which would likely push more people towards public transport.
Fares for routes like Feodosia to Koktebel have remained within the same limits, increasing from 700 to 800 rubles. People are not stopping taxi work; they need to earn a living. For now, 95th and 92nd octane fuel is available in Feodosia, though not at all gas stations and its presence is inconsistent. People continue to use taxis, and calls are coming in. Aggregator prices for services like «Maxim» and «Pickups» seem to have stayed at the same level. I think it will take about a week for taxi prices to react to the fuel situation. If fuel prices continue to rise, I believe fares will be increased, and people will start using bus services more. If a trip is currently 800 rubles, I think it could go up to a thousand.
Broader Context and Official Responses
The situation in Crimea is not isolated but reflects a wider trend affecting Russia’s fuel market. The country has seen a decline in gasoline production for the second consecutive year. This downturn is attributed to several factors: reductions in oil output as part of OPEC+ agreements, prolonged scheduled maintenance and emergency shutdowns at oil refineries, and an artificial limitation of supply by major state-owned companies that prioritize their own filling stations. Additionally, the weakening ruble has contributed to an increase in domestic oil prices.
There are several reasons related to the current state of supplies. Primarily, insufficient production volumes contribute to the absence of gasoline at certain filling complexes. Regarding prices, this is undoubtedly linked to high demand, insufficient supply, and pressure from specific macroeconomic factors. The restrictions introduced concerning the ban on gasoline exports are extremely important at present. Additionally, supplies should be established according to the indicative balance of the Eurasian Economic Union, which will also increase the volume of domestic market offerings. It might also be possible, given the current deficit in the internal market, to increase the purchase and supply of gasoline from Belarus to Russia. Nevertheless, we are currently observing a significant volume of repair and maintenance work, and by October-November, we expect a reduction in such work, which could lead to the stabilization of production volumes and distribution to gas stations across Russia. For Crimea, the entry of vertically integrated companies, or majors, is a very important direction that should be developed jointly by these companies and local authorities. I believe this is a realistic scenario, and such efforts will likely be undertaken in the near future.
In mid-September, the Crimean Ministry of Fuel and Energy acknowledged the fuel deficit, citing complex logistics and temporary supply constraints. The ministry stated that measures were being implemented to optimize these deliveries. Sergey Aksyonov, the head of Crimea, has also voiced his expectation that the fuel situation on the peninsula will improve following the entry of vertically integrated oil and refining companies into the region.
