Fuel prices and queues at gas stations persist in southern Russia.

Residents of the Krasnodar Territory report long queues for gasoline and conflicts at gas stations, while in Dagestan, the price of gasoline has risen to 140 rubles per liter. The only region in southern Russia from which there have been no reports of restrictions on gasoline sales is Kalmykia.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on June 29, authorities announced that only a part of the gas stations in the Krasnodar Territory are operational, and some of them have imposed sales restrictions at the owners' discretion. Governor Veniamin Kondratiev explained the rise in fuel prices by the tourist season and the influx of vacationers. Local residents, commenting on his words in Telegram, noted that there had been no spike in fuel prices in previous tourist seasons.

There is a gasoline shortage and a tense situation at gas stations in the Krasnodar Territory. On the resort coast of Kuban, limits vary among different networks: “Rosneft” allows up to 30 liters of gasoline and 30 liters of diesel fuel, “Gazprom” and “Gazpromneft” - up to 30 liters of gasoline and 60 liters of diesel, “Lukoil” - up to 20 liters of gasoline. Fuel dispensing into containers is also limited, writes Krasnodar political scientist Andrey Gusi in his Telegram channel.

Conflicts occasionally arise between drivers at gas stations. For instance, in the village of Golubitskaya, one driver had his tires slashed for trying to skip the queue, after which a scuffle occurred at the gas station. Fuel is officially dispensed only into tanks with a limit of 20–30 liters per vehicle, although some customers manage to fill gasoline into canisters. Such customers are suspected of being resellers who sell fuel at inflated prices, writes the portal 93.ru.

In Anapa, local residents say that queues at gas stations stretch for kilometers. Both locals and visitors from Crimea are in line at the gas stations. “Almost all the gasoline has been pumped out,” they said in videos published by the monitoring channel Exilenova+.

About 10% of taxi drivers in the Krasnodar Territory are temporarily off duty due to difficulties with refueling. “Gas is still available for those with gas equipment. But those who use gasoline are losing a lot of time,” said Alexander Kaznacheev, chairman of the “Professional Union of Carriers of the Krasnodar Territory,” as reported by RBC.

In Rostov-on-Don, residents complain that only one gas station in the city sells 95-octane gasoline: the queue there stretches for three hours, while other stations are closed or not operational, a local resident told the publication 161.ru. The gasoline shortage has also affected bus schedules: in several regions, including Rostov Oblast, public transport operates with increased intervals, writes “Agency”*.

In Volgograd, the three largest gas station networks have raised prices not only for gasoline and diesel fuel but also for gas, reports the portal V1.ru. Against this backdrop, the regional committee for industrial policy, trade, and the fuel and energy complex claims that the situation is stable and fuel reserves in the region are sufficient. According to the agency, the limits on fuel dispensing per transaction in several networks are related not to a shortage but to increased demand.

Prices in Dagestan are hitting records

In Dagestan, residents also report queues and rising gasoline prices - already up to 140 rubles per liter.

“It is clear that there is a problem with gasoline and queues across Russia. But the price is like before or up to 100 rubles. Here in Makhachkala, on Magomedtagirov Street, gasoline is 135-140 rubles,” reads a message from a reader published in the Telegram channel “Chernovik.”

In North Ossetia, gas stations have a minimum fuel reserve of at least 30% of storage capacity, reported the Minister of Housing and Utilities, Fuel and Energy of the Republic, Timur Karaev.

According to him, a priority supply order for fuel has also been established for emergency services, medical institutions, utility companies, public transport, farmers, and social institutions in the region. Unified requirements for fuel dispensing and daily monitoring of reserves have been introduced for independent gas stations.

Karaev also appealed to gas station managers not to inflate prices, informs “Sapa 15.”

Kalmykia - one of two exceptions in the country

As of June 30, the only regions in Russia from which there have been no reports of restrictions on gasoline sales remain Kalmykia and Chukotka. However, residents of Kalmykia report long queues at gas stations, informs the publication “Vot Tak”*.

The fuel crisis is forcing Russians across the country to change their daily habits, including reducing trips in personal vehicles and taxis, or seeking alternatives to planned vacations in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, notes “Agency”*. Among further risks, the publication mentions a possible rise in prices for goods in stores, as businesses may factor in the increased transportation costs.

* included in the Russian register of foreign agents.

** the activities of the company Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.