Orenburg Region Imposes Fuel Rationing After Ukrainian Refinery Attack

Aug. 12, 2026 Ural56.ru Russia’s Orenburg region near the border with Kazakhstan has introduced fuel rationing and an odd-even license plate system at gas stations, following a Ukrainian drone attack on a local oil refinery. “I’ll be honest, our region is facing a difficult fuel situation. The enemy’s latest terrorist act has created certain problems,” Orenburg region Governor Yevgeny Solntsev said Wednesday. The Ukrainian military said Tuesday it had attacked the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery, located around 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the border with Ukraine. The refinery has an annual processing capacity of 6.6 million metric tons. Under the new restrictions, drivers with license plates ending in even numbers are limited to fuel purchases on even days, while those with license plates ending in odd numbers are limited to fuel purchases on odd days. Authorities have also capped individual fuel purchases at 30 liters (8 gallons) of gasoline per customer and banned sales into portable containers. Police officers and volunteers have been deployed to gas stations in the region to enforce order and manage growing lines. Solntsev said the restrictions were put in place to keep emergency services running. He added that “agreements are in place with other regions and we’re stepping up cooperation with Russian Railways” to address the local shortage. Orenburg is the 16th reported region to face renewed fuel disruptions following a brief period of stabilization in late July that was disrupted by fresh Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure. Read more about: Gasoline , Orenburg 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 Russia Rolls Back Fuel Quality Standards to Quell Domestic Shortages Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 standard fuels will be allowed to be sold on the market through July 1, 2027, according to a government decree. 2 Min read Russia Evacuates Almost 4,500 People After Dam Burst Media reports say up to four people may have died in the flooding in the city of Orsk. 2 Min read Russia Arrests Gay Bar Owner Amid Ongoing Crackdown The bar owner face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty 1 Min read Russia Sets Gasoline Export Record With Rerouted Supplies Russian gasoline exports have averaged 193,250 barrels per day since December 2022, business daily Vedomosti reported Thursday. 1 Min read