(MOSCOW, RUSSIA) – Russia is experiencing a renewed fuel crisis and signs of a hidden military mobilisation, prompting tens of thousands of men to flee the country ahead of parliamentary elections.
Long queues have returned to petrol stations across western Russia, with reports of shortages in Moscow, Rostov, Sochi and other regions. The shortages have led to empty supermarket shelves, as deliveries of perishable goods such as bread, fruit and dairy products are disrupted.
The fuel crisis is compounded by the failure of imported petrol to reach the domestic market. A shipment of Indian petrol is reportedly stuck at the port of Murmansk due to a pricing dispute. Importers are demanding 150,000 roubles (£1,360 / $1,700) per tonne, while regulators insist on domestic pricing of 77,600 roubles (£700 / $880).
Faced with these economic pressures, many Russian men are fleeing to Georgia. Record crossings have been reported at the Verkhny Lars border point, with more than 20,000 people crossing daily since 18th August. The exodus is driven by fears of a new mobilisation wave following the State Duma elections scheduled for 20th September.
Signs of a hidden mobilisation are emerging. Advertisements for security guards at major logistics companies, including Wildberries and Ozon, have appeared across Russia. The adverts reportedly encourage signing contracts before “mobilisation stages begin,” suggesting they are recruitment efforts for the Ministry of Defence rather than private firms.
The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to vote in the upcoming elections, calling it their constitutional duty. He stated, “You must not be afraid to go to the elections and always act within the framework of the basic law.”
Meanwhile, promotional videos featuring young women have appeared on social media, encouraging voters to support the ruling United Russia party.
The situation at petrol stations remains tense. In Moscow, motorists have been filmed pushing cars towards fuel pumps after running out of petrol. Fights have broken out in queues, with one incident in Rostov involving an elderly man brandishing a wrench. A Yandex taxi driver was filmed attempting to run over a man who stood in front of his car to prevent queue jumping.
At a Rosneft station in Moscow’s Lyublino district, drivers parked overnight to wait for a fuel delivery. One motorist reported waking at 4:30 a.m. to refuel. Another said he had driven for two hours searching for petrol without success.
The shortages are linked to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which have destroyed approximately 30 percent of refining capacity, according to reports. Russia has attempted to import fuel from Kazakhstan, India and Belarus, but supplies remain insufficient.
A fuel tourism industry has emerged, with companies offering to transport cars to Belarus for refuelling and return them within 24 hours. One advertisement promises, “Your car is taken, loaded onto a trailer, driven to Belarus, fuelled up, and brought back to you.”
At one petrol station in Moscow’s Maryino district, shelves normally stocked with fresh produce were empty. A local resident filmed the scene, noting that bread, fruit and vegetables were unavailable due to delivery failures.
The fuel crisis has not deterred some propaganda displays. A convoy of vehicles displaying Soviet flags and missiles labelled “To Washington” was seen in Moscow, continuing its tour despite the shortages.
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