Fights erupt at Russian gas stations as fuel crisis spreads

As Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure deepen the fuel shortage, Russian media have documented multiple violent incidents at gas stations. Drivers queue for hours and some try to skip ahead, leading to brawls. The situation is aggravated by stations giving priority to official vehicles, and in some regions, authorities and even war veterans and their families benefit from line-skipping, fueling public anger.

Irkutsk region In Ust-Ordynsky, 36-year-old Vladimir Botoev pushed to the front and acted aggressively. Customers who had waited five hours alerted a police officer, who drew his gun; Botoev left and was later detained, charged with insulting a police officer and violence.

St. Petersburg On June 30, a local resident pulled up to a free pump at a Rosneft station, but taxi driver Artush Muradyan demanded he leave. The first man drew a pistol; Muradyan returned with a knife and attacked, causing serious injury. He was charged and placed under house arrest.

Kaliningrad On July 2, a brawl involving three women broke out at a Teboil station. The next day, a video showed two women fighting over the right to a pump; attendants and other drivers intervened.

Kaluga A video shows a woman refusing to release the fuel nozzle; her son tries to calm her. She demanded a canister and, upon leaving, tried to kick another driver who moved to take the nozzle.

Krasnodar Two drivers argued over who should use the pump first, escalating into a fight. In another video, two women berate a man for filling a canister, which is prohibited in Krasnodar Krai.

Sverdlovsk region In Serov on June 26, a man named Vladimir took charge of the queue. When two women tried to cut, he refused and punched one in the face; he later admitted he was drunk.

Tatarstan A brawl involving several people occurred at a gas station near the border with Bashkortostan; the cause is unknown.

Izhevsk A Ukrainian Telegram channel posted a video of a fight near a pump. The attacker reportedly dragged a driver out of his car; no further details are known.

Chita On June 29, a court fined Dmitry 500 rubles for petty hooliganism. Dmitry had argued with another driver after letting a car ahead; he retaliated with insults.

Cheboksary On June 26, a car driver and a motorcyclist who cut the line fought; the motorcyclist used pepper spray. In early July, a man attacked a woman filming him at the station after a prior dispute over queue order. Staff intervened.