Vladimir Putin addresses officials of the United Russia Party, June 28, 2026
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ORIGINAL ENTRY: Vladimir Putin has acknowledged gasoline shortages and queues for petrol across Russia, amid Ukrainian strikes on refineries and other facilities.
“Unfortunately, there are still lines at gas stations, and the right grade of gasoline isn’t always available. And, of course, we understand the challenges faced by agricultural producers and farms during the summer,” Putin said at a meeting with leaders of the Russian energy industry.
Ukraine’s strikes in June have knocked out the Moscow Oil Refinery, which supplies 40% of the gasoline near and in the Russian capital, for six months. They have threatened to cut off Russian-occupied Crimea, with all fuel sales banned except for the military and essential services.
Putin said Russia is drawing on its fuel reserves, with the amount dropping by about 4% compared to 2025.
“Furthermore, in the interests of domestic consumers, a complete ban on the export of gasoline and jet fuel has been temporarily imposed. The need for a complete ban on diesel fuel exports is also being considered,” he explained.
In an interview after the meeting, Putin said, “We are now observing a certain deficit, but not critical….There are several issues here that we must address.”
Implicitly referring to the Ukrainian strikes, he said Russia must increase production of “the most demanded munitions” and improve them: “The issue is the speed of their production and delivery to the troops or to cover objects of critical infrastructure.”
He said Ukrainian strikes on infrastructure were also part of an “information operation” to “create uncertainty in us, or even better, to cause a split in Russian society” and force a halt to the troop offensive “at least for a short time”.
He insisted, “We will not give them such a chance. Moreover, and this is important, all these terrorist attacks have no effect on the situation at the front.”
