Fuel shortages cause long lines and further headaches to Ukrainian civilians Reuters

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  • Ukrainian civilians wait in line for fuel due to a lack of fuel
  • The fuel shortage is due to Russian attacks and bottlenecks in transport
  • The government promises to replenish supplies regularly

KYIV/BUCHA Ukraine three days ago (Reuters) KYIV/BUCHA, Ukraine May 3 (Reuters) Olha Boholey had at most 1 hour longer than two hours since she walked into the queue of vehicles that gathered at the sole service station that sells gas in the destroyed Kyiv neighborhood of Bucha.

If she could reach an outlet before it was dry, she would only be able to buy 10 litres fuel.

“The fuel shortage will limit the options we have,” said the 37-year-old lawyer, whose parents were sitting at her back of her car while she waited for her turn for them on Monday. “I do not know what else I could do.”

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Boholey as well as millions of Ukrainian civilians are likely to face some weeks, possibly even longer in fuel interruptions because of Moscow’s attack on the energy infrastructure, transportation bottlenecks , and supply cuts from Russia in addition to Belarus.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy is pledging to begin taking steps by the middle of May to stop the fuel shortages that have shut down about half of the country’s 77,000 fuel stations, and caused long lines at stations that have the smallest supply.

The fuel shortage in Kyiv is an rise in demand due to the massive number of civilians who have returned to the region following their escape from the unsuccessful Russian assault on the capital, as reported by Dmytro Mysko who oversees three BRSM Oil service stations.

“Because of the number of people who are returning back the demand has increased multiple times over the past few weeks,” Mysko said. Mysko. One station was serving more than twice its usual daily capacity of about 400 vehicles before being unable to fill up with gasoline over the weekend, he explained.

Serhiy Kuyun from A95 Consulting Group, a research company that specializes in the energy industry, claimed that solving the issue was a matter of the time.

“I think we’ll need to wait until May for this and I’m hoping in June we’ll have an increased or decreased steady supply.”

“I’m not at all concerned with the Army. We have a large reserve of reserves to support them” the official said adding that there are also reserve funds for services in the municipal sector. “The most of the burden will fall on the consumer.”

Zelenskiy declared on Friday “the occupiers deliberately destroy the infrastructure to produce and storage, as well as supply for fuel.”

The Russian navy and sea mines have blocked the ports of the country’s Black Sea ports, preventing tankers from replenishing their stocks Industry and government officials told reporters.

Economic Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced in a statement that shortages will be gone at the close of this week since Ukraine’s retailers have secured agreements for the coming week with European suppliers.

However, the distribution of those supplies may be delayed because a number of roadways, bridges and roads have either been damaged or damaged. Also, traffic can be slowed due to numerous security checkpoints.

Russian forces, involved in the Moscow describes as the “special action” to Ukraine to disarm Ukraine and shield the country from fascists last week struck the Kremenchuk refinery for oil, taking out of operation the final of Ukraine’s two major refineries for oil, and destroyed more than 20 massive depots.

Ukraine consumed about 2.4 millions tonnes of gas, and 8 million tonnes diesel by 2021, as per Kuyun and a source from the government who spoke under the terms of anonymity.

The country was importing more than 80 percent of the oil and other products prior to the war, including the fuel used for 62 percent of its consumption and 44 % of diesel provided from Russia and Belarus as per Kuyun.

The loss of these sources can be controlled by exports of European sources, using the nation’s extensive railway system, said military sources under the an anonymity basis.

“Thanks of agreements reached, often at the top level the situation regarding energy for our army has become secure. We’re transporting nearly everywhere and the overall picture is looking positive,” said one military source who was not able to go into detail.

Ukrainian wartime laws criminalized the disclosure of information that was considered strategic.

A source in the government speaking under the condition of anonymity, stated that Russian attacks on petroleum depots had prompted the government to re-distribute fuel stocks “to be prepared for any new attacks.”

According to Kuyun Fuel traders have also stayed clear of stockpiling fuel by dispersing fuel across stations to fill up and have expanded their import sources and have even a plan to import fuel out of into the United States.

“This is an extraordinary programme,” he said.

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Extra reporting from Oleksandr Kozhukhar Stefaniia Bern and Sergiy Karazy Editing of Tom Balmforth, Alexandra Hudson

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