Ukraine has increased strikes on Russia's oil and weapon infrastructure, while securing fresh aid pledges from allies. Independent Russian news outlet The Bell reported that fuel rationing has been introduced in 53 Russian regions and occupied Ukrainian territories.
Since the start of the week, Tatneft gas stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg have limited each purchase to 20 liters of gasoline and 40 liters of diesel. Rosneft also capped purchases at 90 liters per transaction. Rosneft and Bashneft have banned selling fuel in containers, citing "increased seasonal demand."
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that Russia's oil output in May was only 8.74 million barrels per day, down from 8.96 million in April and about 100,000 barrels short of its target. Russian oil producers announced production cuts after infrastructure was damaged by Ukrainian attacks.
The fuel shortages come as Ukraine gains positive momentum. Over the past week, Ukraine received 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion) in new military aid pledges from allies, including interceptor missiles, long-range artillery, and drone systems. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement to develop European ballistic missile interceptors.
The European Union also disbursed 6 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in military aid from the European Peace Facility and launched EU accession talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the EU to accelerate the process.
Ukraine's strikes on the Moscow Oil Refinery twice last week sent black smoke billowing over the Russian capital, with residents reporting "oil rain" and black soot covering surfaces. Ukraine's General Staff said the plant accounts for over 38% of fuel consumption in the capital region, including aviation fuel for Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports.
The first attack damaged a primary processing unit; the second triggered five simultaneous fires. The plant was forced to halt operations, causing pollution and shutting down six Moscow-area airports. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin had vowed to prevent Ukraine's long-range attacks.
Ukraine also struck the TANEKO refinery in the Republic of Tatarstan, one of Russia's largest plants producing aviation fuel for the military, along with multiple oil storage sites, pumping stations, and oil terminals. On June 12, Ukraine targeted the Tolyattikauchuk chemical plant, which produces synthetic rubber used in rocket fuel.
President Putin showed signs of acknowledging the economic strain caused by Ukraine. "The strikes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are causing damage to the Russian economy. The enemy is increasingly using UAVs to divide Russian society and cause economic harm," Putin said, though he also asserted that "everything is recovering quickly."
However, Dr. Janis Kluge, a Russian economy expert at the German Institute for Security and Foreign Affairs, noted that Russia's defense spending is expected to rise 30% in the first quarter from a year earlier, potentially reaching 10% of GDP instead of the planned 6.2%. Military spending already consumes two-thirds of total budget revenues while government income is declining.
