Putin Admits Fuel Shortages Caused by Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Shortages, Queues, and a Task Force Working Round the Clock
Putin addressed a high-level government meeting focused entirely on fuel supply and distribution. His words were unusually candid. Drivers and businesses were still facing problems, he said, and long lines at fuel stations had not gone away. A dedicated task force, he confirmed, was already working non-stop to stabilise supplies across the country.
He noted that gasoline reserves were actively being drawn down and currently sat at 1.7 million metric tons. July production, he said, was expected to climb above June levels — a signal that officials are under real pressure to show improvement fast.

Ukraine has been ramping up long and medium-range drone strikes on industrial targets inside Russia, with oil facilities taking the heaviest hits. Putin framed these attacks as strikes on civilian infrastructure, calling them "terrorist attacks" and saying Russia must reduce their impact to an absolute minimum.

Diesel Export Ban on the Table
One of the more significant points from the meeting was the question of diesel exports. Putin said a complete ban on diesel exports was under active consideration — a move that would mark a serious shift in Russian energy policy. Interestingly, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak had previously stated that no such ban was necessary, suggesting there is no full agreement within the government on how far to go.

Agriculture was another major concern raised during the meeting. With harvest season approaching, Putin stressed that fuel supplies to farms must be protected at all costs, warning that delays in seasonal supply schedules could directly impact crop yields. "The harvest depends on it," he said plainly.

The broader message from the meeting was clear — Russia is dealing with a fuel problem serious enough that its president can no longer stay quiet about it.