After Ukrainian strikes, Russia faces a gasoline shortage of roughly 20% of its needs, and a ban on exports of gasoline and diesel is now in force in the Russian Federation. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this while speaking with journalists.
The Head of State stressed that Ukraine’s strikes deep inside Russia are a response to Russia’s daily attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian targets. The President is convinced that sanctions pressure and Russia’s inability to continue financing the war can force it to stop.
“We understand that Ust-Luga and Primorsk are now within reach. What happened, in my view, is really a major success. According to our data, the enemy’s gasoline shortage is up to around 20% of needs; estimates vary from 13 to 20% – but it is confirmed that the shortage is already significant. In our view, it is about 20% today,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President also emphasized that Russia has begun importing gasoline from Belarus and China. In particular, Russia has increased imports from Belarus sixfold and removed import duties. In addition, a ban on exports of gasoline and diesel is currently in effect in the Russian Federation.
“The enemy must bear the cost of this war. But we do not kill civilians. Ukrainian forces carry out only precision strikes exactly at the assigned targets,” the Head of State stressed.