Russians queue 18 hours for petrol as war shortages bite

Alyona joined the line for petrol at 11 pm. She did not get served until 5 pm the next day. Her story is becoming common across Russia as the war in Ukraine deepens. Many Russians are now facing fuel shortages that they have not experienced in their lifetimes. The queues stretch for blocks. Drivers wait for hours, sometimes overnight, hoping to fill their tanks. The shortages are a direct result of the ongoing conflict, which has disrupted supply chains and strained the country’s fuel production. For many, the situation is a stark reminder of the cost of war, felt not on the battlefield but at the petrol station.