Did the author just lazily substitute "gasoline" for "fuel", or is it really specifically a ban on gasoline? I cannot find out exactly what it is. Because farm equipment generally runs on diesel, not gasoline, would have less of an impact, if it's really specifically only about gasoline.

[–] photoncollector@mastodon.social 10 points 8 months ago (1 children)

@Hopfgeist @Badeendje
Oil refining is barely limping along in Russia. It was always a weakness, but they don't have the ability to repair and maintain the refineries anymore. No parts, no skilled people.

[–] photoncollector@mastodon.social 9 points 8 months ago

@Hopfgeist @Badeendje
Almost all the people who had the skills to do the repairs have either fled the country or died in Ukraine.

[–] Badeendje@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Well around planting and harvest there is a lot of equipment that needs to run, trucks, etc.

Last year at harvest they also had a fuel shortage. Primarily caused by the Russians rabidly selling as much as they could because the low prices needed to be compensated. Running an illegal invasion of another country, while increasing your military size and running your arms industry 24/7 and keeping the lifestyle of your oligarchs up to par apparently is a cash heavy ordeal.

Here's from September 2023.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/21/russia-temporarily-bans-export-of-petrol-and-diesel-to-stabilise-domestic-market

[–] photoncollector@mastodon.social 7 points 8 months ago

@Badeendje @Hopfgeist
China and India both refused to pay in for oil in Rubles, meaning that the Ruble is a barely exchangeable currency.