Fuel Situation in Russia in Belarus: what actually matters to know

Road conditions within Belarus vary, with ongoing repairs; follow GPS navigation for the most time-efficient routes, which often pass through villages. Border guards may inspect fuel carried in canisters; a full tank plus one canister is generally advised. Mobile connectivity can sometimes be an issue. Mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially near water bodies, though higher floors in buildings might offer relief.

In mid-July, only two Gazprom stations reported having fuel, with long queues. Near Nevel, a gas station is located 1 km after the border. If traveling via Polotsk, the first station is about 30 km from the border. With a 55L tank and 8L/100km consumption, reaching the first Belarusian station from St. Petersburg is feasible if driving conservatively. It is recommended to check fuel availability online using services like Yandex, Tinkoff, or 2GIS.

While some stations in the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg may have fuel (with limits), areas further along the R-23 route have shown significant scarcity of 95-octane gasoline. Diesel fuel was reported to be more available. It's recommended to carry extra fuel, such as in a canister, if unsure about reaching a refueling point.

Motorists face long queues and empty stations. It is advised to keep the tank full, bring a fuel canister (though some stations refuse to fill them), and not rely solely on real-time fuel tracking apps.

West of Smolensk, gasoline shortages and long queues were reported. However, after Smolensk, especially closer to the border, fuel availability improved with normal prices and no queues. It's advisable to refuel before the border or upon entering Belarus.

A Gazpromneft station at km 97 of the Minsk highway is mentioned, with low customer traffic at night and early mornings, offering a limit of 30 liters. Other stations like Tatneft, Lukoil, and Rosneft are also reported to have fuel available with minimal queues on the Vyazma-Moscow section.

'Lukoil' had a queue of about 20 cars. One gas station on Tverskaya offered 95 octane at 100 rubles per liter. The user chose to fill up fully in Russia to avoid risks.