Russia’s Primorsky Krai caps fuel sales for heavy trucks — because drivers ‘fill up to a thousand tons, drive off, drain the tanks, and come back for more’

Primorsky Krai has capped fuel sales for heavy trucks at 100 liters (26 gallons) within city limits and 200 liters (53 gallons) on highways, Vladimir Malyushitsky, deputy chairman of the regional government, announced.

“These limits were introduced because unscrupulous consumers fill their trucks with up to a thousand tons, then drive off, drain the tanks, and come back to refuel,” Malyushitsky said.

A ban on selling gasoline and diesel in canisters also remains in effect. Malyushitsky said Primorsky Krai is fully supplied with fuel for the summer season and that all restrictions will be lifted once the surge in demand subsides.

Russia’s fuel crisis, which began after Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries, has spread to nearly every region of the country. In many regions, authorities have already imposed restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales, while elsewhere the limits have been introduced by gas stations themselves. Long lines have formed at filling stations across the country.

On Sunday, June 28, Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the fuel situation, where he acknowledged that there are lines at gas stations and that the desired grade of gasoline “can’t always be found.” He later added that while there is a fuel shortage, it is “not critical” and “temporary.”