Astrakhan drivers have once again faced a shortage of gasoline at gas stations.

Motorists in Astrakhan have once again faced a shortage of gasoline at gas stations and long lines for fuel. They reported on social media that they are forced to drive around several gas stations in search of gasoline and criticized some drivers for buying fuel in canisters, trying to stock up for the future.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", since summer there have been interruptions in gasoline supplies in the Astrakhan region, which led the authorities to impose restrictions on its sale, while motorists stood in long queues at gas stations. In October, restrictions on fuel sales based on even and odd license plates were lifted. By November 10, the situation stabilized, queues at gas stations practically disappeared, although gasoline prices remained high.

A new wave of panic demand for gasoline became noticeable in Astrakhan on the evening of November 13 after messages about a possible fuel shortage due to a fire at an oil refinery in Volgograd spread in automotive chats. Queues appeared at gas stations, and motorists began to buy gasoline in canisters, the publication "Astrakhan.ru" reported today.

Overnight, gasoline supplies at several gas stations were depleted. The panic demand was caused by unconfirmed rumors about the cessation of fuel supplies. At the same time, there were no official confirmations of the threat of gasoline supply cessation due to the incident in Volgograd, the publication noted.

A post about the gasoline situation in Astrakhan was also published today on the Instagram*-public astrakhan.online, where motorists shared their difficulties with refueling their cars. As of 20:00 Moscow time, this post on the Instagram*-public astrakhan.online, which has about 129 thousand followers, received 134 likes and 43 comments.

Local drivers complained about the lack of gasoline at several gas stations. "In fact, while I was driving today, I only saw gasoline at one gas station. At all the others – zero," wrote gusarova_30.

"Yesterday the entire airport was packed and at Ostrovskogo 'Park Planeta'! I really had no gasoline after the highway. I stopped at 'Park Planeta', a fuel truck with 95 arrived, and I refueled there. Today, November 14, I’m going: airport – no gasoline, 'Park Planeta' – no gasoline! Luckily, I filled up my tank yesterday!" – shared evseeva_lev10.

"Bakinskaya – 'Gazprom' zero, at Aksharumov's 'Gazprom' zero, 'Lukoil' opposite 'Planeta' – there is gasoline," reported anver_syraev.

Other motorists disagreed on the reasons for the gasoline shortage and criticized the mass purchase of fuel in canisters. "Again, the population is to blame," ironically noted davidoff.anton.

"Why not allocate a separate refueling station for those who fill up in canisters, and let them wait in line there? Today I drove around the city, there is no gasoline anywhere, only diesel. Because of such people, it’s just impossible to refuel a car," complained larisa_doroshina.

"I stood today, wanted to refuel, and these poor souls are pouring four or five canisters non-stop, and we are waiting, and the queue keeps getting longer because of them. Well, stock up, what will you do next, salt it?" – wrote yunusov_nail.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the gasoline crisis in the Astrakhan region negatively affected the daily lives of motorists and led to additional expenses. Thus, on July 12, Astrakhan residents reported that due to the fuel shortage, they began to use personal cars less often, walk more, and use public transport more frequently. On July 11, it became known about a sharp increase in demand for the installation of gas cylinder equipment, which led to its shortage and price increase. According to auto service employees, queues for equipment installation stretched for several months. On July 6, against the backdrop of the fuel crisis and panic demand for gasoline, taxi fares in Astrakhan doubled.