Russian regions have been battling a fuel shortage since June 23, with bus services cut, fares raised and even rubbish collection halted in places as authorities scramble to manage a diesel deficit now recorded across almost all regions, local media reported on June 27.

The shortage exposes the strain on Russia's domestic fuel supply, with the disruption to social and municipal transport threatening to stoke public unease at a politically sensitive time. Experts said the crisis had been building for more than a single day, with sufficient warning signals ignored.

In Kaluga region, fares on the Ulyanovo-Kaluga route rose from June 23 while authorities cancelled all suburban bus services, citing a shortage of diesel. In Zabaykalsky Krai, petrol and diesel problems forced changes to route networks in several districts and in Chita.

In Sevastopol, new restrictions from June 22 shifted public transport to a 05:30 to 21:00 schedule, with only passenger boats running and ferries idled, while large shopping centres and catering venues cut their hours.

Carriers across the country attributed fare rises to sharply higher fuel costs, more expensive vehicle maintenance and the need to index staff wages.

Anastasia Bunina, an independent fuel market expert and head of a fuel company, said to MSK1.RU that regions had the chance to prepare for the crisis in advance, and that local authorities should have calculated the risks and built additional fuel reserves for social needs, or arranged special supply terms with filling stations for transport serving people or municipal infrastructure.

"If this is not done, then, excuse me, such managers are worthless. They relied on Russian carelessness, which resulted in cuts to passenger transport, municipal services not turning up to work, and the halting of rubbish trucks, which in my understanding is a nonsense," said Bunina.

She said most filling stations were releasing fuel under limits, but that this did not mean public transport had to stop. On some highway stations in Moscow region, diesel was issued at no more than 200 litres per fill, enough for around a day's work for a truck or bus. Transport that had failed to prepare should refuel more frequently within the available limits rather than passing the consequences onto passengers, she said.

Alexander Frolov, deputy director general of the Institute of National Energy, said the situation varied sharply between regions and that fuel logistics within the country were having to be rebuilt almost manually, requiring coordination between regions to avoid distortions in availability.

He said panic buying was doubling typical purchases, with drivers filling tanks and additional canisters, and that the issue was not a physical absence of fuel but the need to avoid a rush, which was why purchases were being limited.

Panic could be eased primarily through dialogue with the public, he said, adding that developing alternative motor fuels such as gas was not a quick fix, and nor was a switch to electric vehicles.