While officials are looking for "saboteurs," Kirov drivers are looking for gasoline.

      The dynamics at Kirov gas stations continue to contradict the official rhetoric. On July 10, a new fuel sales order with strict dispensing restrictions was introduced in the region. However, judging by monitoring data, these measures have not helped to turn the situation around. On July 13, Governor Alexander Sokolov called the panic messages about gasoline shortages "deliberate sabotage," urging residents not to succumb to provocations. But data from fuel aggregators at 12:20 on July 15 shows the exact opposite: stabilization in the regional center has not occurred.

      According to the service russiabase.ru, high-octane gasoline Ai-95 and diesel fuel have completely disappeared within the city limits. All corresponding markers on the Kirov map are colored red with the concise inscription "No fuel." This means that owners of diesel vehicles and cars requiring 95 gasoline cannot refuel in the city at all.

      The only thing that is still "holding on" is Ai-92. The map shows several green dots with prices of 73 and 76 rubles per liter. However, one cannot count on stability here: almost all of them are accompanied by a warning "Possibly unavailable." This creates a situation we previously described: the gas station appears green in the app, but in reality, the pump may be empty. To confirm the difficulties, there are current dispensing restrictions: drivers are allowed no more than 40 liters at a time.

      It is noteworthy that the Kirov region is not alone in this crisis. As reported by the newspaper "Kommersant," the region has made it onto the list of subjects with the most challenging fuel availability situation. Kirov is grouped with Voronezh, Tambov, Astrakhan, Penza, Rostov, Volgograd, Orenburg, and Yaroslavl regions, as well as Perm Krai, Chuvashia, Mordovia, Udmurtia, and Crimea. It is evident that the problem is more systemic than local sabotage by "saboteurs."

      At the moment, the only working alternative for Kirov drivers, according to the map, remains gas fuel priced at 37 rubles. However, for most car owners, switching to methane is not a matter of a single day. Meanwhile, both officials and drivers are seeking answers to their questions: the former are asking who organized the shortage, while the latter are wondering where they can fill up their tanks today.