Ukraine has attacked Russian oil refineries. These attacks have damaged about 17% of Russia's oil refining capacity. Expert Raivo Vare says that Ukrainians are targeting critical technologies. These technologies are often Western-made, not Russian or Chinese. That's why it's difficult for Russia to repair them.
The Russian government now has to spend more money to support companies. This makes life in the country more difficult. Damage to refineries increases inflation and price rises. The economy is growing more slowly, says expert Igor Gretski.
In some Russian regions, gasoline is running out. However, in major cities like Moscow, gasoline is still available. Security expert Rainer Saks says that Ukraine needs to carry out many more attacks to create a fuel shortage in Moscow. Russian leaders know that fuel shortages can cause major problems. Older people remember that there was also a fuel shortage during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
People in Russia are used to problems. Even in peacetime, they experienced fuel shortages. Now they are using the same experiences to solve problems. For example, gasoline is being supplied from further away by tankers. This is expensive, so in some places, gasoline is running out. In the Far East, gasoline is being transported by rail, but the military still receives gasoline.
The Russian military uses a lot of fuel. Ukrainian attacks have reduced their supply capacity. However, a significant impact is only visible on the southern front. Saks says this is because Ukraine has been attacking Russian supply routes there. This may be one reason why Russia cannot launch an offensive on the southern front.