Demand for electric vehicles has surged following attacks on oil refineries in Russia

--> Demand for electric and hybrid vehicles has surged in Russia amid gasoline shortages. From January through August 2026, more than 83,000 such vehicles were sold there—nearly twice as many as during the same period last year. The New York Times attributes this surge to fuel shortages following Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Gasoline shortages in Russia have begun to affect not only gas stations but also the automotive market. Due to fuel shortages, some drivers have started looking for vehicles that do not require gasoline at all. According to Russian statistics, 83,262 electric vehicles and hybrids were sold in the country from January through August 2026. A year earlier, during the same period, approximately 43,000 such vehicles were sold. Thus, the figure rose by more than 90%.