Putin humiliated as oil-rich Russia runs out of petrol and drivers wait 8 hours to fill up

 Russia appears to be facing a fuel crisis with gas stations running out of petrol, as Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries sow chaos across the country. Multiple regions across Russia have reportedly been affected, with drivers forced to queue for hours in order to fill up.

Some motorists have complained of having to wait for up to eight hours in queues stretching for kilometres. Images widely shared on social media show huge tailbacks as drivers wait patiently to get to the front of the line. Motorists have also seen petrol prices go through the roof as fuel supplies become scarce following Ukraine's devastating bombardment of oil depots.

To date in August, three major refineries were forced to close production after being attacked by UAVs.

Rosneft's Novokuybyshevsk and Saratov plants were both hit, while Lukoil's Volgograd refinery - the largest in southern Russia and one of the country's top 10 producers - was struck on August 14.

According to Reuters, the shuttered facilities account for nearly 30 million tonnes of annual refining capacity, or about 11% of Russia's total output in 2023. Rosneft was also forced to suspend half of its production at its Ryazan facility following drone attacks at the beginning of this month.

This has led to a drastic spike in petrol prices, forcing hard-pressed Russians to spend more cash on their cars. On Monday, the benchmark price of AI-92 gasoline on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange climbed to 71,500 rubles (£659) per tonne, while AI-95 reached 80,430 rubles (£742) per tonne.

The prices rose by 1.3% and 2.2% in a single day, respectively. Since the start of the year, AI-92 has jumped 38% and AI-95 nearly 49%

Russia's state-controlled media has attempted to blame the fuel shortages on "scheduled maintenance".

The Kremlin has reacted to the crisis by imposing a temporary ban on fuel exports until the end of August.

Analysts say that the measure is unlikely to have much effect, as Russia exports relatively little gasoline. The greater risk, sources told Reuters, is a full-fledged domestic shortage.

In annexed Crimea, AI-95 has disappeared from most petrol stations and remaining supplies are distributed mainly by ration cards. And it has vanished altogether in the towns of Krasnokamensk and Borzya in the Zabaikalsky region.