Russia’s Gasoline Shortage Spreads to Central Asia as Kyrgyzstan Seeks Regional Support

Russia’s gasoline supply crisis has begun to affect Central Asian countries that lack sufficient domestic fuel production and have long relied on imports from Russia. According to Jin10, landlocked Kyrgyzstan said this week that it had appealed to regional partners, including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, for help to ensure energy security and maintain stable supplies of petroleum products in its domestic market. Gasoline prices have risen sharply in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan’s western neighbor. Kazakhstan, the region’s largest economy, has been tightening border controls to curb illegal fuel exports. Russia has faced gasoline shortages after Ukrainian drone attacks led to refinery shutdowns, severely disrupting fuel supplies. Based on statements from local authorities and media reports, about 90% of Russia’s regions had fuel rationing or some form of supply disruption by the end of June.