Russian governor proposes fuel rationing by license plate number as gasoline restrictions spread to more than 20 regions

Oryol Governor Andrei Klychkov has proposed selling gasoline at Rosneft and Gazprom stations on a rotating schedule tied to the first digit of a vehicle’s license plate number, announcing the idea in a live broadcast on VKontakte.

Klychkov clarified that a final decision on a gasoline sales system has not yet been made. He described a plan across 57 stations operated by two chains. Under the proposal, vehicles with plates beginning with 0 or 1 could fuel up on Saturdays, those with 2 or 3 on Sundays, those with 4 or 5 on Mondays, and so on through 9. The proposal would also raise the per-person fuel purchase limit from 30 to 50 liters.

Drivers with out-of-region plates would be able to fill up at three designated stations in Oryol. “My priority is the residents of the Oryol region, not transit vehicles or people just passing through,” Klychkov said.

The governor said the measure would curb panic buying and keep drivers supplied for a week and a half to two weeks, with the restrictions and plate-based rotation lifted once demand stabilizes.

“We have worked through these proposals. On Wednesday we will bring [them] to a meeting with security officials to make this decision and implement it in the region,” the governor said.

Fuel sales restrictions are already in effect in the Oryol region. Starting June 24, regional authorities imposed a per-person limit on gasoline purchases: no more than 30 liters at city stations and 50 liters at highway stations.

Russia’s fuel crisis worsened in May amid Ukrainian drone strikes on the country’s oil facilities. More than 20 regions have imposed gasoline sales restrictions.