On September 18, 2026, the regional Ministry of Energy and Housing and Utilities of Nizhny Novgorod Region announced a gradual normalization of gasoline supplies to the region's filling stations: over the past week, supply volumes across all fuel grades had grown by 17% compared with the same period in 2025.[1][2] The announcement marked an interim milestone in the fuel crisis that had gripped the region during the summer months of 2026.

Background

Over the preceding several months, Nizhny Novgorod Region had been experiencing a gasoline shortage linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on the country's fuel infrastructure and unscheduled maintenance shutdowns at oil refineries.[1] Drivers were forced to wait for hours in line at filling stations; fuel difficulties in Nizhny Novgorod Region had begun as early as June 2026, when residents drove from one filling station to the next in search of fuel and queued for hours.[3] In July 2026, an odd-even rationing system was introduced: vehicles whose license plates began with an even digit could refuel on even-numbered calendar dates, and vice versa.[1] The situation appeared to be improving, but in August the shortage worsened again, and with the onset of September a new wave of the crisis arrived: gasoline was unavailable at many filling stations, and where it was available, dozens of cars lined up, causing traffic jams on adjacent roads. Motorists noted that in Moscow and a number of nearby regions the fuel shortage was felt considerably less acutely than in Nizhny Novgorod Region.[3][1]

Ministry of Energy Data

According to the ministry, the weekly increase in fuel deliveries at regional chain filling stations was even more substantial — 40% year-on-year.[2] Demand for diesel fuel was declared fully met.[4] Nevertheless, the ministry noted that tension persisted at a number of filling stations: in its assessment, the cause was accumulated pent-up demand and reduced delivery volumes during the preceding period.[2][4] The authorities did not plan to lift the odd-even system, citing the need to reduce the load on filling stations and restore their normal operation. LUKOIL-Tsentralnefteprodukt LLC announced that the fuel supply situation at filling stations in the Nizhny Novgorod Region had stabilized, explaining that the disruptions had been caused by temporary technical and logistical difficulties.[5][1] The ministry gave no specific timeline for the full lifting of restrictions; oil market analysts forecast stabilization by the end of September or the first days of October 2026.[2]

Restrictions at Filling Stations

As of September 17, 2026, some filling stations in the region continued to dispense fuel in limited quantities: certain stations sold no more than 40 liters of petrol and 50 liters of diesel per customer.[2] At the same time, reports emerged that some filling stations had stopped observing the odd-even system, causing frustration among drivers who had been following the established schedule. On social media, Nizhny Novgorod residents posted widespread reports of kilometer-long queues at filling stations during the peak of the crisis. Some drivers waited at filling stations overnight, hoping to catch the arrival of fuel tankers and refuel in time.[3][1] A similar situation was observed during the same period in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, where limits of between 30 and 60 liters per visit were in effect, depending on the filling station chain.[6]

To address the fuel crisis, the company, together with the government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, developed a package of measures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted fuel supplies to retail consumers.[5]

During the acute fuel shortage, the Nizhny Novgorod government appealed to citizens to temporarily favor public passenger transport. Against the backdrop of the fuel deficit, metal petrol canisters were sold out in shops across Nizhny Novgorod.[7] At a meeting of the operational headquarters, a possible ban on taking petrol out of the Nizhny Novgorod Region was discussed.[7][5]

Sources

  1. GIPERNN — Supplies up 17%: Ministry of Energy reports on the situation at Nizhny Novgorod gas stations
  2. Otkryty Nizhny — More gasoline in Nizhny Novgorod Region, but the situation at gas stations remains tense — Economy
  3. GIPERNN — Some Nizhny Novgorod drivers kept vigil at gas stations through the night, waiting for fuel tankers to arrive so they could fill up.
  4. Zhivyom v Nizhnem — Gasoline supply volumes at Nizhny Novgorod gas stations up 17% — Zhivyom v Nizhnem
  5. Otkryty Nizhny — LLC "LUKOIL-Tsentrnefteprodukt" announced the stabilization of the fuel supply situation at gas stations in Nizhny Novgorod Region, explaining that the disruptions had been caused by temporary
  6. Vremya N — Gasoline limits in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region made public
  7. Zhivyom v Nizhnem — During the fuel crisis in Nizhny Novgorod Region, a possible ban on transporting gasoline out of the region was discussed — the matter was set to be considered at a