Residents of three regions in the Southern Federal District reported a rush at gas stations and rising fuel prices.

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At gas stations in rural areas of Kalmykia, Astrakhan, and Volgograd Oblasts, local residents report a surge in demand for fuel, which has risen in price in recent days.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," in the Volgograd Oblast, drivers encountered non-functioning pumps and a ban on canister fuel at some large gas stations a week ago. Cashiers claim the pumps are closed for repairs and deny any fuel problems. At smaller gas stations, restrictions were indeed in place, specifically, no more than 100 liters of fuel per ticket. By June 16, local authorities had already stated that there was no fuel shortage in the region. Residents confirmed they had not encountered queues, but noted an increase in fuel prices. On June 19, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent asked residents of Kalmykia, the Astrakhan, and Volgograd regions whether they had encountered queues at gas stations in rural areas and whether fuel prices had increased. The survey is not representative and reflects only the personal opinions of respondents.

There's a rush at gas stations in Kalmykia, residents of the republic reported.

I wasn't allowed to fill up my cans at any of the stations.

Twenty-seven-year-old Andrey Zuev, a driver for a logistics company, makes long-distance deliveries of goods twice a month within Kalmykia and to neighboring regions. He reported that "since Monday, the lines at gas stations in Kalmykia have been getting longer and longer." "It seems the panic has started with filling up," he said. "This is against the backdrop of news from neighboring regions where restrictions on fuel sales have been imposed. I was given three 20-liter cans for the trip. I wasn't allowed to fill up my cans at any of the stations." "It's only happened in the Volgograd region. There are no problems with gasoline there (on the federal highway)," he said.

Zuyev noted that "the situation isn't catastrophic yet." But panic among drivers is growing. "In Kalmykia, there's a real rush at the gas stations. You can't imagine how it's getting on your nerves. It doesn't seem to have reached the point of fistfights yet, but the swearing at each other at the stations is enough to make you swear. Of course, standing in line for an hour and a half while customers are waiting for you is no fun," he said.

At private gas stations, gasoline is about 10-18 rubles more expensive. The lines are long.

"Gazprom is closed. At private gas stations, gasoline is about 10-18 rubles more expensive. "The lines are long," said Vera Kichikova, a resident of the village of Yashkul.

The woman said there are no restrictions on gasoline sales at gas stations. She also noted that her daughter-in-law had also told her about problems at gas stations. "Lukoil, she says, sells normally, without restrictions, but the lines are long everywhere," Kichikova's relative reported.

Tseren Basangov, a native of Elista, now lives in Moscow. But he, too, has heard about the fuel problems in his native republic. "Friends say the situation is dire. There's no gasoline. And where there is, prices have gone up," he said.

The man showed the journalist a screenshot of a conversation with a friend who lives in Elista. Here's what his friend writes: "Yesterday I was driving, there was a huge line at Lukoil, then on the way back, it closed completely, apparently they sucked everything up... Now I fill up with full tanks."

Prices are also rising in Volgograd and Astrakhan, neighboring Kalmykia.

One receipt is 100 liters. But no one will stop you from filling up the tank and then adding another hundred liters a little later.

Temporarily unemployed resident of Volgograd's Central District Olga Kitaeva reported that there are no lines at Lukoil gas stations in the city center (Vtoraya Prodolnaya and Parkhomenko Street). But gasoline prices have risen by at least 7 percent over the past month (as of June 19, Ecto 100 gasoline costs 95 rubles 84 kopecks, Ecto 95 - 72 rubles 72 kopecks, Ecto 92 - 65 rubles 34 kopecks, diesel - 77 rubles 48 kopecks). "There are no notices about restrictions (on gasoline sales). But I asked the guy who pumps gasoline. He said that one receipt is for 100 liters. But no one will stop you from filling up the tank and then adding another 100 liters a little later. That means you can fill up as many times as you want throughout the day," Olga said.

Our employee went to Ilovlya and Mikhaylovka today, and they put a couple of canisters of gasoline in his trunk. Someone called recently and said there were lines at gas stations along the highway.

Gennady Kotelnikov, 46, an employee of a trading company, confirmed that there is no rush to buy gasoline in the regional center. At the same time, according to the source, there are lines at gas stations in rural areas. "Yesterday evening, I saw a long line near Krasnoslobodsk at the entrance to the bridge. Our employee went to Ilovlya and Mikhailovka today – they put a couple of cans of gasoline in his trunk. Someone called recently and said there were lines at gas stations along the highway. "Against the backdrop of news from southern Russia, where there's currently a fuel shortage, the rush at gas stations is gradually increasing in our region," Kotelnikov noted.

Zhanna Kurilkova, a resident of the Ilovlya district center, reported a worsening fuel situation. "The Sady Pridonya gas station stopped selling fuel to individuals today. Fuel is being withheld for personal use, to refuel the plant's equipment. Nearby gas stations (small ones) have been closed for over a week. In the city (Volgograd), small gas stations have also closed "for technical reasons." Supplier prices are simply exorbitant," the woman said.

A similar situation is developing in the Astrakhan Region. In Astrakhan, according to local residents, there are no problems purchasing fuel of any grade. Meanwhile, in rural areas, small gas stations are closing, and queues are forming at the stations of large companies.

57-year-old IT specialist Oleg Teplishchev said that "everything is calm in Astrakhan." "Yesterday, we were standing with our friends, chatting, and no one even mentioned this situation (fuel shortage at city gas stations, - KU note). My people are coming from the south... There are no restrictions," he said.

Often, such restrictions are imposed not by regional authorities, but by the management of gas station chains.

Teplishchev noted that he is monitoring the fuel crisis in the country. According to him, in June, restrictions on gasoline sales appeared in several regions of Russia at once. "This isn't primarily a national measure, but a regional response to increased demand and temporary supply disruptions. Often, such restrictions are imposed not by regional authorities, but by the management of gas station chains," Teplishchev expressed his point of view.

A 30-year-old taxi driver from Astrakhan, who introduced himself as Pavel, also reported a lack of problems in the regional center. "I drive around the city without looking for a gas station. I can fill up at any time without any long lines. But I still keep a full 20-liter canister in the trunk—just in case I have to travel to the outskirts. I've heard there are lines at gas stations there, and restrictions—no more than 20 liters per tank. So the crisis is gradually reaching Astrakhan," the taxi driver said.

Pavel also noted a 10% month-over-month increase in prices for all grades of gasoline. However, he said he hasn't noticed any bus route cancellations due to the current fuel situation in the region. "People are traveling around the Astrakhan region as usual, but commercial flights, for example, to southern resorts... Well, I don't know about that. I haven't heard of any cancellations. But none of my relatives and friends are planning a vacation on the Black Sea; everyone's staying home. They're going fishing in the delta. There's enough gas for everyone for that kind of trip," Pavel said.

When asked if taxi prices in Astrakhan had increased due to rising gas prices, Pavel briefly replied, "What do you think?"

There are very long lines at the gas stations. And the limit is only 20 liters per tank.

A resident of the village of Nachalovo, who introduced herself as Alevtina, reported lines at local gas stations. According to the woman, smaller gas stations are closed. "Very long lines at the gas stations. And the limit is only 20 liters per tank," she noted briefly.

50-year-old Alexei Petukhov resident of the Narimanov district works at one of the local agricultural enterprises. The man reported that there is no rush at the Lukoil gas station located on the Volgograd highway. "But at gas stations far from the highway—of course, there are villagers standing in lines. Some smaller gas stations have closed altogether. Our farm manager stocked up on diesel in case of a fuel shortage. "But if the fuel completely disappears, these reserves won't save us. We definitely won't last until the harvest. What to do then, no one knows," Alexey said indignantly.

As a reminder, reports of gasoline shortages and price increases emerged against the backdrop of attacks on oil refineries in southern Russia. On June 10, a fire broke out at an oil refinery in the village of Afipsky. On June 5, an oil depot in Ust-Labinsk caught fire, requiring the evacuation of nearby houses. On June 2, a drone attack started a fire at an oil refinery in the village of Ilsky in the Seversky District. The fire was extinguished the same day.