Posted on 09/18/2025 12:44:04 PM PDT by marcusmaximus
Russia’s gasoline sales hit a two-year low on Tuesday as Ukrainian drone strikes and surging harvest-season demand intensify the country’s fuel shortage.
Data from the St. Petersburg Exchange, reported by Kommersant on Wednesday, shows that sales of A-92 petrol dropped 21.7 percent to 15,600 metric tons on Tuesday, the lowest level since 2023. Sales of A-95 petrol fell 15.5 percent to 12,060 tons compared with the previous day, bringing total gasoline sales on the exchange down 19.1 percent to 27,700 tons.
The sharp decline comes amid unscheduled shutdowns at several large Russian refineries, as Kyiv reportedly escalated its campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure.
-snip-
According to Kommersant, some refineries have declared force majeure and stopped shipping petrol, accelerating the depletion of local fuel stocks. Independent petrol station chains have been hit hardest, as suppliers prioritize deliveries to larger networks. Two independent chains, each operating about 20 stations, have already suspended retail sales and now sell petrol only under long-term contracts.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.eu ...
I would like to note, I was the first person here and for a LONG time the ONLY person here which proposed that this was how Ukraine could end the war. Every day for the last year or two I have said Ukraine needs to start attacking Russian oil refineries and cripple the Russian war machine.
I am SO happy that they are FINALLY recently following my advice and that President Trump is also turning the screws on other countries buying Russian oil.
This is the way to get Russia to bend the knee and give up without more people dying.
Biden refused to let Ukraine hit Putin’s oil refineries. Things changed once President Trump returned to office.
Doesn’t farm equipment mostly use diesel, rather than gasoline?
What changed is now Ukraine has weapons of its own to strike inside of Russia and does not need the permission to use western weapons.
So Russia is selling less retail gasoline etc to customers because there is less available from refineries and wholesalers to sell to them, not because there is less demand. This would imply a situation with shortages and lines, and perhaps price gouging, unavailable gas at any price, etc.
Not good. Is there reliable news that this indeed is happening? Has it impacted the Russian military ability to keep on invading Ukraine?
Europe uses a much higher percentage of diesel than gasoline in general for transportation.
It is also cheaper.
At least it was in Italy a year ago.
About .10EU/liter less.
Which is STILL expensive. Diesel was about 1.65EU/liter.
Almost every vehicle we rode in was a diesel. Two were Mercedes mini vans with standard shift transmissions.
Only in Rome did a lot of the taxis use gasoline. They were almost all Toyota Hybrids.
FYI, the average Italian rides a Vespa scooter to work. A lot of that has to do with trying to PARK in cities that were not designed for cars/trucks. The other reason is the cost of FUEL. Upper middle class people have a FIAT. Only really rich people drive BMWs, Mercedes and Audis.
I saw ONE Ferrari in Rome. A model and her rich husband/boyfriend were getting into it just down the street from the Spanish Steps.
I don’t recollect seeing a Vespa on my trip to northern Italy.
Turin tended to have very small cars. They were parked amazingly close together.
Milan had larger vehicles.
Genoa was quite a mix, with lots of motorcycles. Near the waterfront they were parked close together.
I took trains between cities. The fares were low and the trains ran pretty fast and were on time.
Russian Forces Advance Across Entire Eastern Front | Final Defensive Lines
“Has it impacted the Russian military ability to keep on invading Ukraine?”
The Russian Ukraine operation probably needs as much fuel as an American city of about 50,000 people.
The Russians are moving forward at a snail’s pace. The main use of motor fuel is to bring food and artillery shells from train depots to Russian soldiers.
Unscheduled shutdowns 😂😂😂😂, much like drone debris 😎
Don’t forget motorcycles, mopeds, golf carts and atvs, better on gas then the tanks and apcs theu seem to be short on these days😎
We flew into and out of Rome.
Then took the high speed train to Florence.
Then took the train to Assisi.
Then took the train to the suburban station south of Naples.
A van took us out to Sorrento.
Ferries to Amalfi, Position, and Capri.
Van to Pompeii.
Van back to Naples and high speed train to Rome.
The three high speed trains went 135 and 185 mph(300 KLM/hour).
Scooters were very popular around Sorrento and the Amalfi coast just because the roads are very narrow.
Many are more like 6’ wide alley’s.
At the main ferry dock in Sorrento there were hundreds of scooters parked for all the people that worked out on Capri.
Yes. Another clown post by mucusmaximus.
We also saw several Smart cars parked in Rome.
They stood out because many times they were parked perpendicular to the curb in a spot not long enough to fit even a FIAT.
Then there were city blocks in Rome and Florence where all parking spots were just a couple feet wide.
Everything parked was either a scooter or a motorcycle.
However, scooters outnumbered motorcycles at least 10 to 1.
I thought I would see a lot of Ducati or even Motoguzzi motorcycles, but I think I have seen more at bike week in Loudon, NH than the two weeks I was in Italy.
“What changed is now Ukraine has weapons of its own to strike inside of Russia and does not need the permission to use western weapons.”
This is wonderful news. Thank you!! It means they can win without us and we can walk away with a clear conscience. They don’t need us anymore.
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