Siberia pushes citizens to work from home as Russia faces fuel shortage
Officials in Russia’s Tomsk region are urging government employees and residents to work remotely and reduce travel due to a worsening fuel shortage caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure. The regional government recommends online meetings to save fuel, noting that vehicles used by government officials consume about 4,000 gallons of gasoline monthly. Similarly, Novosibirsk has advised businesses to allow remote work and residents to limit private vehicle use amid fuel supply disruptions following Ukraine’s strike on the Omsk oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest. Ukraine’s drone campaign continues to target Russia’s energy facilities,including refineries and fuel depots,as part of a broader strategy to weaken Moscow’s war effort. Since 2025, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including recent strikes around Moscow, causing significant disruptions to fuel production and distribution.
Officials in Russia’s Tomsk region are urging government employees and citizens to work remotely and limit travel as the country’s fuel shortage worsens amid increased Ukrainian pressure on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
“Currently, given the significant distance of most municipalities from the regional center, officials are additionally advised to plan official trips in more detail and to make greater use of remote interaction formats,” the Tomsk regional government said in a statement, recommending online meetings to reduce fuel consumption.
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The government said vehicles used by the governor’s office, regional legislature, human rights commissioner, and other state agencies consume roughly 4,000 gallons of gasoline each month.
The neighboring city of Novosibirsk has taken similar steps. Konstantin Khalzov, the deputy governor, signed a decree recommending that businesses allow employees to work remotely, except for essential workers. The order also encourages residents to limit the use of private vehicles and ensure they have sufficient fuel before making necessary trips.
The measures come after Ukraine struck the Omsk oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest, on July 6. Omsk borders both Tomsk and Novosibirsk, and damage to the refinery has disrupted fuel supplies across parts of Siberia.
The shortages reflect Ukraine’s broader strategy of targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure, which Kyiv and its Western allies view as a critical pillar of Moscow’s war effort. Since 2025, Ukraine has significantly expanded its long-range drone campaign, repeatedly striking refineries, fuel depots, and storage facilities deep inside Russia. Last week, a large-scale drone attack targeted energy facilities around Moscow, overwhelming air defenses and igniting fires at multiple oil sites.
Ukraine has increasingly focused on Russia’s energy infrastructure, launching more than two dozen strikes against oil refineries since March, including attacks on eight of the country’s 10 largest facilities. The sustained campaign has forced Moscow to contend with growing disruptions to fuel production and distribution while continuing its war effort.
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