---
title: "Queues and jerrycans banned: Moscow introduces strict limits on petrol sales"
description: "Limits on refueling have been introduced in Moscow and the Moscow region: at Gazprom Neft and Lukoil gas stations, it is now impossible to buy more than 30 liters of gasoline per person, and filling jerrycans is completely banned. The reason is a sharp fuel shortage after strikes on refineries, causing gasoline prices to soar to a 20-year high. 🛢️🚫📉"
date: 2026-06-30T10:44:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/moscow-introduces-strict-limits-on-petrol-sales-gazprom-neft-and-lukoil-ban-jerrycans
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Queues and jerrycans banned: Moscow introduces strict limits on petrol sales

![Man refueling a blue BMW at a gas station in Moscow amid new fuel sales limits](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/30/moskva-vvodit-limity-na-prodazhu-benzina-azs-gazpromneft-i-lukoil/moskva-vvodit-limity-na-prodazhu-benzina-azs-gazpromneft-i-lukoil-1.webp)

Strict restrictions on the sale of automotive fuel have been introduced in Moscow and the Moscow region. Major Russian oil companies Gazprom Neft and Lukoil have limited the volume of fuel a single customer can purchase in one refueling session. These measures are a reaction to a sharp shortage caused by a series of strikes on oil refining infrastructure.

### Rules of the game at Gazprom Neft gas stations

The Gazprom Neft network has introduced strict quotas for drivers. At urban gas stations, one customer can refuel no more than 30 liters of gasoline or 60 liters of diesel fuel. An important new rule is the complete ban on dispensing fuel into jerrycans — gas station staff no longer serve customers wishing to take fuel for future use.

Highway stations operate under different conditions, taking into account the needs of long-haul transport. There, drivers are allowed to purchase up to 30 liters of gasoline or up to 200 liters of diesel. At the same time, some of the company's Moscow gas stations enforce similar urban limits, restricting gasoline refueling to a 30-liter capacity.

### Restrictions from Lukoil

Similar measures have been taken by Lukoil. Restrictions have already come into effect at three gas stations in Moscow. Depending on the specific station, a driver can purchase a maximum of 30 liters of fuel, while at two other locations the limit has been reduced to 20 liters per transaction. Like its competitors, the sale of fuel in jerrycans at these stations is completely blocked.

### Causes of the fuel crisis

The sharp tightening of refueling rules is a consequence of large-scale problems in the Russian fuel market. It was previously reported that Ukraine struck eight out of ten of Russia's largest oil refineries. Some of these enterprises were subjected to attacks repeatedly, leading to a serious drop in production volumes.

Against the backdrop of infrastructure destruction, the cost of gasoline in Russia demonstrated the sharpest surge in the last 20 years. The fuel shortage became so critical that sales restrictions were introduced in dozens of Russian regions. The Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug was among those affected, accounting for about 40% of the country's total oil production.

### Searching for solutions

To stabilize the situation and alleviate the shortage, Russian authorities were forced to seek external resources. Russia officially appealed to Kazakhstan with a request to supply 50,000 tons of AI-92 gasoline. Additionally, the Russian government permitted the import of fuel to meet domestic needs, which was previously restricted.