Media reports indicate an increase in fuel deliveries to gas stations in Primorsky Krai. However, widespread panic led motorists to fill their tanks completely, causing a renewed shortage. Regional authorities have confirmed that the number of fuel tankers making deliveries has been doubled.
“Endless queues are everywhere, and at private gas stations, a liter of gasoline costs 82 rubles,” describe listeners, sharing the situation at fuel stations in Primorsky Krai. They send photos of local gas stations showing dozens of cars lined up. Filmmaker Vitaly Poplavsky recounts his experience:
“We drove from Vladivostok to Dalnegorsk and needed to refuel. At the first gas station, there was an enormous queue of 20-30 cars, so we moved on. At the next station, we were told to wait for a tanker to arrive and deliver gasoline. After about 20 minutes, we were informed that only 98-octane fuel would be available, and not for another 40 minutes. Naturally, we left and found fuel from private sellers. While the standard price at regular stations was 61-80 rubles, private sellers charged 82 rubles per liter. Payment was accepted only in cash, perhaps to avoid recording the sale on a receipt, or for some other unknown reason; in any case, it was 20 rubles more expensive and strictly cash. The attendant immediately tucked the money into a special pocket attached to the fuel pump. We passed about ten gas stations, and nearly all had massive queues. Some were completely closed. This situation of scarcity and queues persisted almost all the way to Dalnegorsk.”
A local publication reports that while fuel deliveries have increased, the panic-driven behavior of motorists filling their tanks has led to renewed shortages. Despite regulations prohibiting the filling of fuel canisters, some drivers continue to do so. Yekaterina Ocheretina, a Moscow resident who recently visited Primorye, notes the absence of diesel fuel at some local gas stations:
“We just passed Chuguyevka, and we pulled up to a gas station. There were no queues, of course, because this isn`t the main road; we turned off the highway. But at the station, there was neither 95-octane fuel, marked `Maintenance,` nor diesel, marked `Draining.` Yet, there were no vehicles nearby that appeared to be draining fuel. So that`s the situation on the road. We then passed another station, which was completely empty, and it also indicated that no fuel was available.”
Sergey, a driver from Khabarovsk, states that his city has no fuel problems. However, a few days ago, he traveled to Primorye and shared what he observed there:
“There wasn`t such a frenzy that people were filling canisters due to panic; that`s quite common. If people are going somewhere, like to a bay or another remote location, they often have generators. They`ve always filled canisters. There was no sense that they were stocking up specifically for a trip. I refueled in Vladivostok, and on the way back in Luchegorsk, at an NK Alliance station, there were probably about 20 cars. I waited for about half an hour and filled up. True, only one pump was working from both sides, offering 92 and 95 octane. I paid 61 rubles per liter to get home. I didn`t encounter any major problems. I think this situation is a bit exaggerated.”
— It`s said that this is due to logistics.
— That`s entirely possible. I didn`t delve into the specifics.
The press service of the Ministry of Energy of Primorsky Krai announced that the number of fuel tankers delivering fuel to gas stations has been doubled in response to the shortage.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth