A growing number of Russian regions have recently seen the reintroduction of fuel rationing measures to combat shortages of gasoline and diesel caused by Ukrainian drone strikes against major oil refineries throughout the country.

In the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, Governor Vladislav Shapsha announced the return of an odd-even system based on vehicle license plate numbers and a ban on sales into portable canisters starting Wednesday.

“The lines [at gas stations] are back. This causes reasonable frustration,” Shapsha wrote on Telegram.

In Siberia’s Zabaikalsky region, authorities announced a cap of 15 liters (4 gallons) per vehicle on AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline grades across 48 gas stations. Fuel reserves in the region stood at 17,000 metric tons, which are expected to run out in 20 days.

Zabaikalsky’s regional government stressed that 106 out of its 249 functioning gas stations were selling fuel without any restrictions.

Both announcements follow Ukrainian drone attacks on three key Russian oil refineries in Moscow, Samara and Ufa over the last three days. The Ukrainian military claimed this week that it has knocked out more than 45% of Russia’s refining capacity.

Last week, authorities in the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg capped gasoline sales at 30 liters (8 gallons) per vehicle until at least Oct. 1. They described the region as the epicenter of a second wave of Russia’s summer fuel crisis after Ukrainian attacks on the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery knocked it offline in August.

Nearly one in five independent and small gas stations had suspended work because they have been unable to buy wholesale fuel on the St. Petersburg exchange, Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said.

Drozdenko said oil companies expect fuel supplies to stabilize in October.

The average price of gasoline in Russia has climbed 21% since the start of the year, with a single-week increase pushing the national average to 78.51 rubles per liter ($3.39 per gallon) as of Sept. 14.

Russia has banned gasoline exports through Jan. 31, 2027, along with diesel until the end of October, to stabilize the domestic fuel market.

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