MOSCOW (Realist English). On 5 August, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on the domestic fuel market situation. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), the Ministry for the Development of the Far East, regional heads and leaders of industry companies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Novak instructed the relevant agencies to continue coordinated work on supplying the domestic market with fuel, monitoring pricing and ensuring uninterrupted deliveries of petroleum products.
Independent stations – the main headache
The key takeaway from the meeting: fuel problems persist mainly in regions where a large share of the retail market is made up of independent filling stations.
“Special attention today was also paid to ensuring supplies to regions with a large number of independent stations. Problems remain there,” Novak said.
According to him, an agreement was reached that oil companies, through regional operators, would gradually supply fuel to independent stations as well.
Special focus was placed on the Tver, Tambov, Novosibirsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as the republics of Buryatia, Khakassia, Sakha (Yakutia), Tyva and the Altai Krai.
Farmers and northern deliveries – under control
Particular attention was paid to ensuring fuel for agricultural producers and deliveries under the northern delivery programme.
Novak stressed that oil companies had allocated the necessary fuel volumes for farmers’ needs in August. “All the necessary volumes for autumn field work have been allocated by enterprises and oil companies. This was confirmed by both the Ministry of Agriculture and the regions,” the deputy prime minister said.
Fuel deliveries under the northern delivery programme are proceeding according to plan and in line with demand.
Prices go down – but not everywhere
According to Rosstat, average petrol prices fell by 1.09% over the week, while diesel dropped by 1.57%. As of 3 August, the average price per litre was:
- AI-92 – 72.77 roubles
- AI-95 – 78.72 roubles
- AI-98 – 101.21 roubles
- Diesel – 91.29 roubles
This is the first time since the start of the crisis that petrol prices have fallen: by 3 August, prices had dropped by 1.44% compared to 27 July. The most significant declines were recorded in the Mari El Republic (9.7%), Voronezh Region (6.4%) and Irkutsk Region (6.2%).
However, in some regions the situation remains tense. In Saratov Region, AI-95 rose by 2.73 roubles over the week to 80.64 roubles per litre. In the Khanty‑Mansi Autonomous Okrug, some federal network stations are experiencing assortment shortages, while some private stations in Nefteyugansk have completely suspended AI‑95 sales.
FAS punishes speculators
The Federal Antimonopoly Service continues its fight against speculation in the fuel market. In response, the agency has issued 52 warnings related to pricing and launched 28 cases based on violations.
Criminal cases have been opened against filling station owners in the Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk regions, the Perm Krai and the Komi Republic. Warnings have been issued to station owners in Kursk, Orenburg, Kherson and Penza regions.
How Russia is navigating the peak of the fuel crisis
Russia’s fuel crisis in the summer of 2026 manifested as physical shortages, sharp price increases and the introduction of strict administrative limits at filling stations. The shortage was caused by refinery maintenance (including after drone attacks), logistical difficulties and seasonal high demand.
By early August, the peak of the crisis is gradually being overcome. At the end of July, Novak already spoke of stabilisation after some refineries resumed operations: “A number of plants have come back online, so the balance is now better. And the situation at filling stations in terms of supply, including for agricultural producers, is significantly better.” Major federal networks in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Central Russia have already lifted the main restrictions. However, local shortages persist at independent stations in several regions in the South, Siberia and the Urals.
Authorities acknowledge that the peak of the crisis has passed, but the problem of independent stations remains unresolved. Novak has opted for manual management through regional operators and coordination with oil companies. The FAS is tightening penalties for speculators, and fuel prices have begun to fall.
The question is whether the situation can be stabilised in regions with a predominance of independent stations before the active phase of autumn field work begins – or whether shortages and queues will return with the colder weather.
