There's panic buying of fuel in Russia now

- Russia is facing localized fuel shortages and panic buying at some gas stations, driven by a combination of refinery drone attacks (from Ukraine), spring agricultural demand, planned maintenance, and a weak ruble making exports more profitable. - The Russian government has imposed a temporary ban on gasoline exports (until summer 2024) to stabilize domestic supply, but some regions still report queues and empty pumps. - This is notable because Russia is a major oil producer and exporter; domestic fuel shortages expose logistical and refinery vulnerabilities often hidden by wartime censorship. - The panic buying echoes Soviet-era shortages and is politically sensitive for the Kremlin, as fuel prices directly affect citizens and key industries like farming.