00:00Fears of social unrest and popular discontent due to acute fuel shortages
00:05has forced the Kremlin to deploy security forces to guard gas stations
00:10common.
00:11This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
00:17citing internal sources.
00:19According to analysts, since August 18, 2026, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has
00:26Rosguardia units deployed to patrol at least 13 gas stations in the region
00:31from Moscow and in occupied Crimea.
00:33The main objective of these measures is to contain the violence and mass discontent among
00:39citizens, caused by the strict restrictions on gasoline sales.
00:44The ISW points out that the deployment of the Russian National Guard demonstrates that the Kremlin has no
00:51absolutely no confidence in the ability of the regular police to cope
00:56the magnitude of potential unrest and considers that the fuel crisis itself constitutes
01:02a long-term threat.
01:04Alongside the crackdown on gas stations, Russian authorities are modifying
01:09urgently passing legislation in preparation for a brutal crackdown on the protests.
01:15A government committee has approved a bill that allows staff of the
01:19Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations will use physical force and firearms
01:25in the performance of their duties.
01:27Although the Kremlin officially disguises this decision as "protection against drones"
01:32"Ukrainians," ISW analysts are convinced the document was created
01:37to give security forces a legal basis to disperse riots by force
01:42navy.
01:43The amendments to the Civil Defence Act are introduced in a context marked by the two biggest fears
01:49of the regime, the persistent gasoline shortage and the eventual forced mobilization that Putin
01:55It plans to carry it out immediately after the State Duma elections in September.
02:00Russian authorities extended restrictions on gasoline exports, but this did not
02:06It managed to halt the further worsening of the fuel shortage.
02:09Amid this shortage, Moscow is also forced to seek additional volumes
02:15of petroleum products abroad, including Asian and Middle Eastern countries
02:20Half.
02:21Gasoline availability problems have been observed in Russia for some time
02:25several months.
02:26A new wave of shortages began to appear at the end of May, when restrictions
02:32The sale of fuel began to spread even to the largest cities in Russia.
02:37According to data cited by Russian media, which in turn cite the GedeBenz mobile application,
02:43By August 18, gasoline was only available at approximately 28% of the stations.
02:49gas stations across the country.
02:51Just a week earlier, that figure was around 41%.
02:55Thus, fuel availability has decreased significantly in a short
03:01period of time.
03:02Problems are being reported in several regions of Russia, including areas that regularly suffer from them.
03:07the consequences of the long-range Ukrainian attacks.
03:10A decrease in gasoline availability was observed in, among other places, the regions
03:17from Moscow, Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Borones, Samara, Pensa, Zaratov, Lipetsk and
03:26Rostov, as well as in Tatarstan.
03:28The problems have also affected the Moscow region.
03:32Gazprom Neft confirmed that gasoline volumes have been restricted at some gas stations
03:37From Moscow. The company stated that it is taking steps to increase supply.
03:42According to ISW analysts, the situation is also revealing because of the leadership
03:48Russia has long sought to protect the population of large cities from
03:53the western part of the country from the direct consequences of the war.
03:57The spread of fuel shortages towards Moscow indicates that the capacity of the
04:02authorities to compensate for the consequences of attacks against oil infrastructure
04:06is becoming increasingly limited.
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