Russia’s Energy Ministry has warned users of group chats where drivers share information about fuel availability at gas stations.
The ministry said it had noticed “increased activity” among services tracking fuel availability at filling stations since late June, adding that such information is “supposedly submitted by drivers themselves.”
Specialists note that such resources may pose a threat related to the illegal collection of personal data. An analysis of the information posted by these services indicates that it is unreliable. Manipulation of data on fuel availability at gas stations has also been noted.
The Energy Ministry is continuously monitoring the petroleum products market and working to stabilize it as quickly as possible, the ministry said.
The fuel crisis triggered by Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries has spread to nearly every region of the country. Drivers are waiting in line at gas stations for hours and creating chat groups to share information about where gasoline is still available. In at least four regions, the messaging app Max has blocked those chats. The reasons for the blocks were not explained.
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