Russian authorities have brought in Cossack guards to maintain order at petrol stations as nationwide fuel shortages, caused by a wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, have triggered long queues and rising tempers among drivers. The disruption matters because it has forced Russia — the world's third-biggest oil producer — to import petrol from as far away as India, and signals that the Ukrainian strikes are succeeding in their aim of pressuring Moscow towards peace after more than four years of war.

The strikes follow Russia's own bombardment of Ukrainian power facilities. Shortages of petrol and diesel have paralysed parts of the country, with prices spiralling and drivers losing patience. In the Black Sea resort of Anapa, officials said Cossacks — a historic military community known for their distinctive uniforms and fur hats — were regulating traffic, preventing conflicts and stopping people filling petrol cans. Anapa, like other areas including parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine, has rationed drivers to 20 litres of petrol per car, which one resident said lasted roughly a week.