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06.07.2026.

9:15

Russia's historic collapse has begun PHOTO/VIDEO

Vladimir Putin is facing mounting pressure as Ukraine steps up its attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure, with refineries across the country shutting down due to damage and lengthy repair work.

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Russia's historic collapse has begun PHOTO/VIDEO
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The attacks, which began in May in Crimea before spreading to mainland Russia and even as far as Siberia, have triggered fuel shortages on a scale many Russians have never witnessed in their lifetimes.

Fuel shortages, rising inflation, attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and cities, as well as mounting military losses, are fueling increasingly vocal criticism from prominent figures in Russia, The Hill reports.

 

“This is a crisis. What we're seeing right now is an extremely rapid acceleration of public admissions that we are in serious trouble,” said Vladimir Milov, a Russian economist living in exile.

According to The Hill, Russia may now be approaching a tipping point, with pressures that have been building since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Crimea Left Without Power, Oil Terminal in St. Petersburg Hit

Ukraine's advances in drone technology have enabled its military to strike targets at medium and long range with increasing effectiveness — both in occupied Crimea and deep inside Russia itself.

 

Ukraine struck several power substations in Crimea during the night of July 5, causing a widespread power outage across the peninsula.

Saint Petersburg, the hometown of Vladimir Putin, also came under attack in the early hours of Saturday. During the large-scale strike, an oil terminal in the city's Kirovsky District was hit, sparking a fire and sending thick black smoke billowing over the city.

Kateryna Stepanenko of the Institute for the Study of War said Putin could resort to nationalizing parts of the industry in an effort to ease the shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure.

 

The situation has become so severe that, according to The New York Times, Russian officials acknowledged this week that they are considering importing oil from other countries — a remarkable admission for the world's third-largest oil producer.

According to Reuters, Russia has already begun importing gasoline from India to help offset fuel shortages across the country.

At least 60,000 metric tons of gasoline have reportedly been shipped from India to Russia, along with two tankers carrying between 30,000 and 40,000 metric tons of fuel each.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has signed a law aimed at increasing gasoline supplies for the domestic market, according to Bloomberg.

The legislation allows light straight-run gasoline to be blended with other components to produce high-octane motor fuel.

The amendments also provide subsidies for importers in an effort to encourage gasoline imports into Russia.

Mother With Baby Waits 18 Hours for Fuel

Ordinary Russians are increasingly feeling the impact of Ukrainian attacks on refineries and cities, facing fuel shortages, long lines at gas stations, and record-high prices.

According to Fortune, Russia's fuel crisis has become so severe that a mother with a baby reportedly had to wait 18 hours in line to buy gasoline.

The magazine also reported that in the Siberian city of Irkutsk — nearly 5,000 kilometers from Ukraine — queues at gas stations have grown so long that local officials have promised to provide portable toilets for motorists waiting along the roadside.

Russia
EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Alyona Sadovnikova told The New York Times that she, her husband, and their 18-month-old baby recently joined a fuel queue at 11 p.m. and waited until 5 p.m. the following day before finally being able to fill up their vehicle.

She said she first noticed the fuel shortages in Russia in mid-June, when she was unable to refuel because the gas station was serving only customers with fuel vouchers.

“I was horrified… Are we now in the Soviet Union, where you had to get vouchers to buy sausage?” she told The New York Times.

“A Serious Challenge for Putin”

The newspaper notes that long queues for gasoline are one of the most visible and tangible examples of how the war with Ukraine is affecting everyday life in Russia, and also represent a serious challenge for Vladimir Putin.

Public frustration has grown so intense that among drivers exhausted by hours-long waits, physical altercations have also been reported.

Vladimir Milov said Russia is facing what he called an “unholy trinity” of economic problems this year:

  • GDP began to decline in the first quarter of 2026
  • The budget deficit is rising sharply
  • Inflation is accelerating

 

He added that “the government is effectively financing the deficit through monetary emission, i.e. money printing, which has a strong inflationary effect. This further fuels inflation, prevents the Central Bank from cutting interest rates, and investment continues to decline.”

However, Vladimir Milov believes it is difficult to predict any political change in Russia, given that Vladimir Putin has criminalized almost all forms of political organization and opposition activity, while Russian society has adapted toward survival and accommodation.

He assessed that it is more likely Russia could experience a sudden historical rupture, similar to events such as the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 or the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

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Vladimir Putin Russia War in Ukraine Ukraine Eastern frontlines

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