By Abida Kahlun,
Bureau Chief, Helsinki
Scandinavian News Agency
A severe St. Petersburg fuel shortage has left drivers waiting for hours at gas stations, according to reports cited by SNN News Finland. Only 55 of the city’s 175 stations reportedly had fuel available, with some motorists describing wait times of up to seven hours.
The reported shortage follows what Ukrainian sources describe as a drone strike on the Kirishi oil refinery, a major fuel supplier for the wider St. Petersburg region.
SNN News Finland has not independently confirmed the strike or its scale, and Russian authorities had not issued a detailed public statement on refinery damage at the time of this report.
What’s Driving the St. Petersburg Fuel Shortage
Local accounts cited by SNN News Finland describe long queues turning tense, with fights reportedly breaking out among drivers waiting in line. These accounts have not been independently verified and should be treated as unconfirmed reports pending official comment from city or regional authorities.
The Kirishi refinery is one of several facilities in Russia’s northwest that has reportedly come under attack during the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Ukrainian military channels have periodically claimed responsibility for strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, framing them as efforts to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military.
Russian officials, for their part, have generally downplayed the operational impact of such strikes when addressing the public.
Black Market Prices and Official Response
Fuel is reportedly being resold on the black market at 600 to 750 rubles per liter, several times above the regulated pump price, according to the report reviewed by SNN News Finland.
Local officials are said to have warned that a full return to normal supply may not happen until October, though no timeline has been officially confirmed by regional energy authorities.
Key Facts
- Only 55 of 175 gas stations in St. Petersburg reportedly had fuel available
- Drivers reportedly waited up to seven hours in queues
- The shortage follows a reported drone strike on the Kirishi refinery
- Black-market gasoline reportedly sells for 600–750 rubles per liter
- This is reportedly the city’s third fuel crisis in 2026
- Petersburg Fuel
FAQs:
What caused the St. Petersburg fuel shortage?
Reports cited by SNN News Finland link it to a strike on the Kirishi refinery, though this has not been independently confirmed.
How long are drivers waiting for fuel?
According to the report, some drivers waited up to seven hours at stations that had fuel in stock.
How much is black-market gasoline costing?
Reportedly between 600 and 750 rubles per liter, well above the standard regulated price.
When might the shortage end?
Officials are said to have indicated relief may not arrive until October, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Has this happened before in St. Petersburg this year?
Yes this is reportedly the third fuel crisis the city has faced in 2026, according to the report reviewed.
A Repeating Pattern in 2026
According to the report, this marks the third fuel crisis to hit St. Petersburg so far this year. Repeated shortages point to a pattern of vulnerability in the region’s fuel supply chain, though the precise causes of each earlier incident whether logistics, maintenance, or external attacks have not been consistently detailed in available reporting.
SNN News Finland will update this story as confirmed details from Russian regional authorities, energy companies, or independent monitors become available.
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