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Fuel Shortages Spread Across Russia as Ukrainian Strikes Disrupt Supplies

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Fuel shortages are spreading across Russia as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to disrupt refinery operations and fuel supply chains. What began as shortages in Russian-annexed Crimea has now extended to parts of southern Russia and even Moscow, with long queues, temporary fuel station closures and purchase restrictions reported in several regions. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the disruptions, saying the government is working to address the situation.

In Crimea, authorities have suspended fuel sales to private motorists and reduced operating hours for public transport and businesses. In Sevastopol, limited fuel sales triggered long queues, while prices surged to nearly three times their normal levels. Similar shortages have emerged in Rostov-on-Don, where some petrol stations have run out of fuel, affecting residents and businesses that rely on regular supplies.

Although major fuel retailers in Moscow have largely kept prices stable, some privately owned stations have increased prices by more than 10%, and queues have appeared at several locations. The widening shortages highlight the growing impact of Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, as the conflict increasingly affects daily life far beyond the front lines.

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Thousands Continue Protests in Serbia Despite Vucic’s Resignation Announcement

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Thousands of people gathered in the Serbian city of Kraljevo on Sunday, continuing nationwide anti-government protests a day after President Aleksandar Vucic announced he would step down within weeks, paving the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections. While many protesters welcomed the announcement, they expressed concern that Vucic could retain influence by seeking the post of prime minister and backing a close ally for the presidency.

The protests began after the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in late 2024, which claimed 16 lives and sparked widespread public anger over alleged government corruption and mismanagement. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners reading “Students are winning” marched peacefully, calling for political change and greater accountability. Vucic has denied allegations of corruption.

The developments are being closely watched by both the European Union and Russia, given Serbia’s strategic position and its balancing of relations with both sides. The EU has urged Serbia to uphold democratic standards, strengthen judicial independence, improve press freedom and ensure fair elections as part of its bid to join the bloc. Protesters say their movement is about securing lasting institutional reforms rather than simply replacing political leaders.

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Putin, Lukashenko Hold Talks Amid Rising Ukraine-Belarus Tensions

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held talks at Putin’s Valdai residence on Friday, with discussions expected to focus on the war in Ukraine alongside trade, economic cooperation, joint projects and regional security. The Kremlin said no documents would be signed and no joint press conference was planned following the meeting.

The meeting comes as tensions between Belarus and Ukraine have intensified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Putin of trying to persuade Lukashenko to deepen Belarus’ involvement in the war, a claim rejected by both Moscow and Minsk. Lukashenko said he recently met representatives of Zelenskiy and warned them against dragging Belarus into the conflict, while the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of threatening Belarus’ sovereignty over alleged signal relay stations.

Although Belarus has not deployed its troops to fight alongside Russia, it allowed Russian forces to use its territory to launch the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and later agreed to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons. Zelenskiy said this week that the disputed relay stations had stopped functioning, though there has been no independent verification of the claim.

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Russian Hardliners Urge Putin to Escalate War and End U.S.-Brokered Talks

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Russian nationalist hardliners are urging President Vladimir Putin to intensify the war in Ukraine and abandon U.S.-mediated peace efforts following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. The renewed calls come after attacks targeting Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea and other locations, prompting demands for stronger military action.

Some pro-war commentators have called for expanded strikes on Kyiv, the targeting of Ukrainian leadership and critical infrastructure, and even the abandonment of diplomatic negotiations. While some of the rhetoric includes extreme proposals, analysts say it reflects growing concern within nationalist circles over Ukraine’s ability to carry out long-range attacks and the effectiveness of Russia’s current strategy.

Despite the pressure, the Kremlin has so far resisted calls to end negotiations or adopt the most aggressive measures. Russian officials have expressed frustration over stalled U.S.-brokered peace efforts, but President Putin continues to signal confidence in Russia’s military campaign while leaving the door open for a potential diplomatic solution alongside ongoing battlefield operations.

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Russian-Installed Authorities Declare Economic Emergency in Crimea

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Russian-installed authorities in Crimea have declared a state of economic emergency following a series of Ukrainian attacks that have disrupted fuel supplies and affected daily life on the peninsula. The emergency measure is intended to speed up decision-making and ensure the continued functioning of essential services, although officials have not detailed what practical changes it will bring.

The announcement comes after local authorities suspended tourism, cancelled children’s summer camps and halted fuel sales in response to mounting supply shortages. Residents have reported long queues at petrol stations and rising fuel prices as repeated drone strikes have strained logistics and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy facilities and supply routes in an effort to weaken Moscow’s military capabilities and disrupt access to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure to create unrest among the population, while the conflict continues to affect economic activity across the region.

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Kremlin Seeks Answers After Apple Removes Russian Apps from App Store

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Russia has demanded an explanation from Apple after several applications linked to Russian technology company VK were removed from the App Store without prior notice. VK, which operates popular social media, messaging, video, email, and educational platforms, said the company is not subject to U.S. sanctions and described Apple’s decision as unfair and unacceptable for millions of Russian users.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian authorities would formally seek clarification from Apple and warned that Moscow could reconsider future cooperation with the company if satisfactory answers are not provided. He also suggested that affected users could switch to Android devices, where VK’s applications remain available.

The dispute comes amid Russia’s broader effort to reduce reliance on Western technology platforms since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Moscow has increasingly promoted domestic digital services, including VK’s state-backed MAX messenger, while strengthening control over the country’s online ecosystem. VK remains one of Russia’s largest internet companies, with millions of daily users across its social media and video platforms.

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Russian Opposition Leader Jailed for Anti-War Posts

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Russian opposition politician Maxim Kruglov, deputy leader of the Yabloko party, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian army. The charges stem from two Telegram posts he made in 2022 regarding the war in Ukraine. Kruglov denied wrongdoing and argued that the case reflects growing restrictions on free expression in Russia.

During the court hearing, Kruglov said the prosecution effectively criminalizes political disagreement and public dissent. He rejected claims that his posts were motivated by political hatred, stating that his work has always focused on improving life in Russia. The Kremlin maintains that wartime censorship laws are necessary to preserve national unity amid its confrontation with the West.

The verdict comes just months before Russia’s parliamentary elections, in which Yabloko hopes to participate despite its limited political influence. Party leader Nikolai Rybakov condemned the ruling as unjust and urged voters to support Yabloko as a way of opposing current government policies. Kruglov reaffirmed his anti-war stance and expressed hope for a future Russia where differing opinions can be openly expressed.

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Crimea Suspends Summer Camps as Ukraine Strikes Trigger Fuel Crisis

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Russian-held Crimea has suspended tourist activities and children’s summer camps until September as a growing fuel crisis disrupts the region. Authorities say Ukrainian attacks on sea routes, supply roads, and Russian oil infrastructure have severely affected fuel deliveries, forcing petrol stations across Crimea to halt sales to the public and businesses.

The fuel shortages are part of a wider problem across Russia, where repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries have reduced gasoline and diesel production. Several Russian regions have reported supply disruptions, while some fuel stations in Moscow have also experienced shortages of certain fuel grades.

The Kremlin said officials and oil companies are working to stabilize the domestic fuel market. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has directed agencies and producers to prepare measures to boost supplies, maintain prices, and increase output as Russia faces declining fuel production and exports amid continued attacks on its energy sector.

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Ukrainian Drone Strike on Moscow Refinery Highlights War’s Growing Impact Inside Russia

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A major Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region has brought the realities of the war closer to Russia’s capital, striking an oil refinery and causing visible disruption across parts of the city. Thick black smoke rose over the skyline following the attack, while reports indicated that residential buildings and commercial properties were also affected. Local authorities said an eight-year-old girl was killed in a fire linked to the strikes.

The attack is being described as one of the largest aerial assaults on the Moscow region since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While many residents have grown accustomed to periodic drone attacks and security incidents, the strike underscored the increasing reach of the conflict into Russian territory. Some residents expressed shock at the scale of the attack, while others viewed it as part of a new normal created by the prolonged war.

Russian officials and state media sought to downplay the impact, emphasizing that Russia’s military operations in Ukraine remain more extensive and effective. However, repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, including oil facilities, have raised concerns about economic pressure, fuel shortages, and rising costs. Despite the growing frequency of such incidents, the Kremlin has signalled no change in its military strategy and remains committed to continuing the conflict.

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Moscow Residents Report ‘Oil Rain’ as Kyiv Launches Largest-Ever Drone Barrage Against Russian Capital

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A massive Ukrainian air assault involving nearly 200 drones targeted the Russian capital, triggering a major fire at the Kapotnya oil refinery and prompting Moscow residents to report a fine, oily “black rain” coating their clothes and vehicles. The unprecedented strike, described as Kyiv’s largest drone offensive since the start of the full-scale war, wounded at least 17 people in the wider Moscow region, set ablaze a nearby shopping center, and forced the temporary closure of the city’s four major airports. While municipal authorities denied the existence of toxic fallout, the city’s official Telegram channels paradoxically warned vulnerable residents, the elderly, and families with children to urgently evacuate the affected southeastern districts and keep all windows tightly sealed.

The catastrophic bombardment caused massive explosions at the refinery—marking its third strike this month—with verified footage capturing the dramatic moment an oil silo roof was blown dozens of meters into the air. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explicitly framed the operation as direct retaliation for a recent devastating Russian attack on Kyiv that desecrated the historic Pechersk Lavra monastery, warning, “If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too.” In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened immediate, mass-scale military reprisals, while Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have intercepted nearly 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles across the country over a 24-hour window, including an attack in the Rostov region that left one person dead.

The sophisticated multi-wave assault bypassed extensive anti-air networks by utilizing hundreds of reconnaissance decoy drones to exhaust local defenses before the primary explosive payloads struck. The scale of the breach has raised serious domestic questions regarding the defense capabilities protecting Russia’s most critical infrastructure, shattering the illusion of safety for ordinary Muscovites living 500 kilometers from the border. As the war of attrition intensifies, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha addressed the panic on social media, telling bewildered Moscow residents that the strikes are the direct consequence of their state’s ongoing aggression and urging them to demand an end to the conflict from Vladimir Putin.

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