Long queues have formed again at gas stations in southern Russia.

Restrictions on sales and fuel shortages force drivers in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions to stand in queues, while rising fuel and other goods prices make families save.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in June, there was a rise in gasoline prices in Volgograd, and queues at gas stations in rural areas, with restrictions on fuel sales at all gas stations. Some gas stations offered more expensive grades of gasoline for purchase. At that time, authorities assured consumers that the situation was under control. On August 1, in Volgograd and Astrakhan, after a drone attack on the Volgograd oil refinery, there was no panic at gas stations and no rise in fuel prices.

A correspondent for the "Caucasian Knot" surveyed drivers in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions, as well as in Kalmykia. The survey is not representative and reflects only the private opinions of respondents.

Residents of the Volgograd region complained about long queues

Olga Kitaeva lives in the Zapolotnovskaya part of the Central district of Volgograd. Olga works "in the humanitarian sphere." She is currently on "self-paid leave." Olga's husband mainly refuels at the Lukoil gas station located on Pakhomenko Street.

"At the Pakhomenko gas station, there is no gasoline at night. Only diesel fuel. For other (types of fuel), there are blanks. During the day, I see queues at this gas station. My husband used to refuel with 92-octane. But since the quality of fuel has sharply deteriorated, to preserve the engine, he fills the tank with 95-octane. This grade is more expensive, but repairing the car will cost us unimaginable expenses," the woman said.

At noon on August 22, Olga Kitaeva visited this gas station again. A long queue of cars had formed. The display showed only two positions – diesel (79.37 rubles) and A-92 (66-16 rubles). At the cash register, there was a notice: "Limit for one vehicle: gasoline – 40 liters, diesel – 60 liters."

"When I approached, the gas station employee removed the 95-octane gasoline from the display, only 92-octane remained. I asked the girl (cashier) when it’s better to come to refuel. At night, she said, there is no gasoline. It is only delivered around 7:00. Now, by 12:00, the 95-octane has run out. How long the 92-octane will last is unknown. Those who managed to get it, got it. Today is a day off, gasoline runs out quickly. On weekdays, it lasts until the evening," the woman said.

Olga noted that her family "saves on everything," including gasoline.

"We try to use public transport, fortunately, it hasn’t increased in price yet. We only go to the dacha once every two weeks in our car. It’s more convenient. For now, we can afford it. But against the backdrop of rising fuel prices and stagnant salaries, it seems that soon we will have to give up independent trips," complained Olga Kitaeva.

On the evening of August 21, two gas stations were operating. There were kilometer-long queues at both.

A resident of the Krasnoarmeysky district of Volgograd, introducing himself as Dmitry, reported that queues at gas stations in his area had risen again.

"Not all gas stations are operating. For example, on the evening of August 21, two gas stations were working. There were kilometer-long queues at both. Yes, prices have risen. I wouldn’t say by much – about 2-3 rubles (per liter). But we don’t pay attention to the price, just to refuel – it doesn’t matter at what price," Dmitry said.

Dmitry noted that he doesn’t pay attention to the limits at gas stations, as 30 liters per refueling lasts him a long time.

"Although I saw how transit drivers refueled in two attempts, so these restrictions have been reintroduced," Dmitry said.

Forty-seven-year-old resident of the district center Ilovlya Zhanna Kurilkova and her husband have been engaged in the transportation of agricultural products since 2025.

"The situation with fuel is just as bad as it was a month ago. It has even worsened, as it has become more expensive. Gas stations are either closed or there are long queues," the woman noted.

If the price dynamics do not change for the better by mid-September, farmers and other agricultural organizations will start abandoning or selling land. Who will work at a loss?

According to her, diesel fuel is "in sufficient supply," and its rising price has not yet driven farms "to bankruptcy."

"But if the price dynamics do not change for the better by mid-September, farmers and other agricultural organizations will start abandoning or selling land. Who will work at a loss?" noted Zhanna.

Volgograd historian Andrey Kudинов reported that he refueled his car at two gas stations (due to sales restrictions) – at the Lukoil gas station, fuel was sold at the following prices: A-100 cost 98.24 rubles, A-92 - 66.16 rubles, A-95 - 73.63 rubles. Diesel – 79.37 rubles. At a private gas station (on the way out of the city), the fuel price was 2 rubles lower.

"On Lazoreva Street, I saw four closed gas stations. At Chapurniki, there was a large queue – I didn’t even want to stop there. The same at Kanalnaya. I only refueled calmly when leaving Chervleny. There, the prices were more or less reasonable. But at the private gas station – I don’t know what the fuel quality is. My car is old – it’s hard to tell why the engine is rumbling," Andrey said.

Kudинов noted that for now, his employer pays for the fuel, as he drives his car for "work purposes."

"I have been saving for a long time. I don’t drive my car just for fun. In the city - only by public transport. Fortunately, my work is not far away. All my family members do the same. We save on everything. On food, on leisure, on the dacha. When we went to the sea for vacation – we’ve already forgotten about it," complained Andrey Kudинов.

Drivers reported a slight decrease in prices against the backdrop of refueling restrictions

A minibus driver, introducing himself as Damir, reported that on August 22, "when ordering" in Kamyzyak, he did not refuel in Astrakhan, as, according to him, there were many closed gas stations and queues at the open gas stations.

"I filled up in Kamyzyak. I couldn’t refuel yesterday, as it wasn’t my number (according to the odd-even system). Of course, I do not approve of such refueling restrictions (odd-even). It’s pointless. But we (minibus drivers) know some tricks, I won’t name them. For example, private drivers carry cans of gasoline with them. This is when they need to go to the district. We are prohibited from carrying cans (with gasoline) for passenger transport safety reasons," Damir said.

Damir named the fuel prices established by August 22. They turned out to be the same as in Volgograd. At the same time, compared to the prices that Damir mentioned to the journalist on August 1, gasoline in the Astrakhan region has decreased by 1.5 – 2 rubles per liter.

Fifty-year-old engineer of utility networks Nikolai Kurychev also pointed out the negative price dynamics for fuel in the Astrakhan region.

"This is, of course, pleasing. But it seems that there is still a significant fuel shortage in the region. The regional government is trying to hide this and keeps prices. I don’t know how this will end. But the old limit has been reintroduced (odd-even), fuel often runs out at gas stations, and there is a shortage everywhere. Again, queues have appeared at gas stations," Kurychev said, noting that on August 22, he observed three closed gas stations on Funtovskoye Highway and on 40 Years of VLKSM Street.

Queues are large and restrictions are in place – 30 liters per person. There are no queues at private stations, but gasoline there is very expensive – up to 125 rubles per liter.

A resident of the Kalmyk village of Yashkul Vera Kichikova reported that in her area, "there is no fuel shortage." It is available at all gas stations.

"Only the queues are large and restrictions are in place – 30 liters per person. There are no queues at private stations, but gasoline there is very expensive – up to 125 rubles per liter," Vera reported.

Twenty-seven-year-old Andrey Zuev, a driver at one of the logistics firms in Elista and Stavropol, noted that fuel prices in Kalmykia are higher than in neighboring regions (Volgograd and Astrakhan) – gasoline costs more by 20 – 30 kopecks per liter, and diesel – by 1.5 rubles per liter.

"Today, I observed closed gas stations on Lenin Street (in Elista). But on Sukhe-Bator Street, I refueled without any issues. I didn’t pay attention to the restrictions – whether they were in place or not. I needed 20 liters. The fuel crisis, of course, affects the quality of life. We save on everything. We try to grow more vegetables in our garden. We stock up. My mother has already filled half of the cellar with preserves. Considering that the management at work is not in a hurry to raise our salaries, we survive as best we can," Zuev said.