Antitrust Service Ramps Up Crackdown on Alleged Price Fixing at Gas Stations

July 6, 2026 Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) has launched price-fixing proceedings against six gas station chains in the Moscow region, Interfax reported Monday, as authorities scramble to contain a nationwide fuel crisis triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries. The six private operators, which run a combined 25 stations across the region, are accused of illegally coordinating simultaneous price hikes at the pump. The crackdown follows separate FAS investigations opened last month into suspected cartel activity among three major wholesale fuel traders and potential gouging at two Moscow gas station chains. Nationwide, retail gasoline prices have climbed 11.6% since January, hitting an average of 72.38 rubles per liter ($3.52 per gallon) by late June. Also on Monday, Interfax reported that FAS had uncovered alleged anti-monopoly violations in the Saratov and Orenburg regions, both of which share borders with Kazakhstan. In the Saratov region, the agency issued a formal warning to a gas station chain that holds a “dominant market position” in the region’s Engelssky district. The company was ordered to roll back predatory price hikes by July 31. In the Orenburg region, FAS accused three wholesale distributors of collusion to artificially inflate the cost of bulk diesel. It was not immediately clear whether the distributors faced any charges. Since June, Russian regions have increasingly faced higher gasoline prices at the pump and, in some cases, outright shortages as a result of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and fuel supply networks. The disruptions arrive at a critical time, with both the summer vacation travel season and the agricultural farming season in full swing. In response to the supply drop, authorities have introduced fuel rationing measures across the country and in annexed Crimea. President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged that Russia is facing a “certain shortage” of fuel. He estimated Russia’s total gasoline reserves at 1.7 million metric tons, marking a 4% decline compared to the same period last year. Read more about: Gasoline , Moscow region , Federal Anti-Monopoly Service Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Antitrust Service Enlists E-Commerce Sites to Block Speculative Fuel Resales Avito has temporarily hidden all fuel-trading ads, while online marketplaces Ozon and Wildberries have banned gasoline sales outright. 2 Min read Antitrust Service Investigating Moscow Gas Stations for Possible Price Gouging Neftmagistral and EuroTrans have until June 26 to submit pricing data to the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service for gasoline and diesel sales. 2 Min read Russian Military Boosts Call-Ups for Annual Reservist Training Exercises Military commissariats in the Moscow region have sent a flurry of demands to companies to provide lists of employees eligible for reserve duty. 4 Min read Residents Outside Moscow Protest Power Outage, Demand Heating Amid Subzero Temperatures At least 21,000 people had power knocked out in their homes on Thursday morning in the town of Podolsk when a heating main burst. 2 Min read