Russia has begun importing petrol after a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and fuel depots triggered widespread shortages across the country — a striking development for a nation long considered an energy superpower and one of the world's leading crude oil exporters. In Moscow, drivers have reported queuing for up to two hours only to find stations run dry, with some stations closing for hours mid-queue; similar scenes have played out across other Russian regions. To ease the crisis, authorities have also temporarily authorised the production and sale of Euro 2 petrol — a lower-grade fuel banned in Russia since 2013 and containing up to 50 times more sulphur than the modern Euro 5 standard — though officials have warned it can damage engines with prolonged use. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged this week that Ukrainian strikes on industrial infrastructure "do inflict damage" but insisted there were "no critical consequences," a characterisation that sits uneasily with rising public anxiety documented in recent Russian polling.