Russia dispatches teachers and officials to petrol stations as fuel crisis deepens
In Krasnodar Krai, teachers on summer break are told to keep order at filling stations amid fuel shortages sparked by Ukrainian strikes on refineries. Similar measures are spreading across Russia.
Fuel crisis triggered by Ukrainian strikes
Russia’s fuel supply has been severely disrupted by a series of Ukrainian attacks targeting domestic refineries and oil infrastructure. The damage has led to widespread shortages of gasoline and diesel, forcing regional governments to implement extraordinary measures to manage the fallout.
Teachers deployed to calm angry drivers
In Krasnodar Krai, a southern region bordering the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, teachers on their summer vacation have been ordered to report to filling stations. Their task is to soothe furious motorists and keep order at the pumps as queues grow. In exchange, they are offered only tea and coffee. The decision drew sharp criticism after the Telegram channel Antijob.net, which monitors labour rights abuses, shared a message from one teacher.
We, young teachers, weigh less than 50 kilograms and we have to calm enraged people at a gas station. For free and compulsory, (...) otherwise we may be fired.
Regional authorities dispute the claim of coercion. Speaking to the local outlet Zhyvaya Kuban, administration representatives insisted that only men are participating and that their involvement is entirely voluntary.
Officials and volunteers pressed into service
The practice of deploying staff to manage station queues is spreading. In Pskov Oblast, local officials are actively recruiting "volunteers" to stand duty at filling stations belonging to the Surgutneftegaz network. Their responsibilities include explaining fuel sales rules and helping to regulate lines. On the premises of Pskovnefteprodukt stations, members of so-called civic squads are already performing these duties.
In Irkutsk Oblast, authorities have proposed a different approach: an electronic registration system that would allow drivers to book a refuelling slot online, aiming to eliminate physical queues altogether.
License-plate rationing across eight regions
Several regions have resorted to rationing by vehicle registration. According to the independent outlet 7x7, residents in Karelia, Mordovia, Oryol, Nizhny Novgorod, Lipetsk, Pskov, Astrakhan, and Kirov Oblasts are receiving SMS messages alerting them that petrol will soon be distributed based on whether their license plate ends in an odd or even number. The scheme is reminiscent of similar measures used during past crises.
Public anger online, silence in the streets
The fuel shortages have provoked a flood of online debate. Novaya Gazeta Europe reports that since 1 May, Telegram users have generated more than 6,600 posts and close to 40,000 comments about the crisis. The most intense discussions are concentrated in annexed Crimea, Moscow, Krasnodar, Rostov, Moscow Oblast, and occupied Ukrainian territories.
Yet despite the digital uproar, physical protests remain almost non-existent. Only one public demonstration has been formally announced: a rally in Perm to denounce the benzine shortages. No sizeable gatherings or demonstrations have been recorded in other regions.
