A new chapter in Moscow’s war economy is unfolding this morning as Ukrainian forces step up attacks on fuel depots deep inside occupied Ukrainian territories. The strikes, confirmed by Kyiv, target supply lines that keep Russia’s military machine moving. Meanwhile in London, the government tightens sanctions on Russian oil exports, sending diesel prices soaring across Europe.
For ordinary Russians, the fuel crisis is no longer a distant rumble. At petrol stations in Rostov and Krasnodar, queues stretch for miles. Motorists report waiting hours, with many stations running dry. “We have no diesel, no petrol, nothing,” a driver in Rostov told local media. “The prices are crazy. I spent half my monthly salary just to fill the tank.”
The attacks on occupied territories are part of a deliberate strategy to disrupt Russia’s logistical backbone. By targeting fuel depots in Melitopol and Berdiansk, Ukraine aims to starve the front lines of supplies. Experts say the damage is already being felt. “Fuel is oxygen for a modern army,” said a military analyst at the Royal United Services Institute. “Without it, tanks don’t move, planes don’t fly, and supply trucks stall. The Kremlin is feeling the heat.”
But the pain isn’t confined to the military. The UK’s latest sanctions, announced today, ban British firms from insuring ships carrying Russian oil. This follows a G7 price cap that has already slashed Russia’s oil revenues. The result: global diesel supply tightens, pushing prices up for everyone. In Britain, the average litre of diesel now costs £1.85, a rise of 15p since last month. Hauliers warn that the cost will soon be passed on to consumers. “Every rise in diesel means higher prices at the checkout,” said a spokesperson for the Road Haulage Association. “This is a hit to household budgets when they can least afford it.”
For working families in the North of England, the crisis feels personal. “I’m a nurse. I have to drive to work,” said Maria, a single mother from Manchester. “The fuel costs are eating into my food money. It’s a choice between heating and eating already.” Her story echoes across the red wall seats, where voters are feeling the pinch. The government insists the sanctions are necessary to cut off Putin’s war funding. “We must be prepared to bear the cost of freedom,” said a Treasury spokesperson. But critics argue that the burden is falling unevenly.
Union leaders are calling for targeted relief. “The Chancellor must act now,” said Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite. “A windfall tax on oil giants to support the most vulnerable. We need a social tariff on energy and fuel.” Labour echoed the call, with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves pledging a “fairer approach” that shields households.
On the ground in Ukraine, the fuel shortages are exacting a brutal toll. In Kharkiv, residents stockpile wood for heating as diesel for generators becomes scarce. “We are surviving, but barely,” said Olena, a shopkeeper. Every strike on a fuel depot is a lifeline pulled from the Russian grip. But for those far from the front, the sanctions are a reminder that war has a price, and the bill is coming due.
As the crisis deepens, one thing is clear: the battle for fuel is now a battle for ordinary lives. In Russia, in Ukraine, and in Britain, the cost of this war is measured in litres and pounds. And there is no cheap way out.
