Sevastopol's New Fuel Sale Rules: QR Codes, Free Sales and Diesel Limits

Fuel sales in Sevastopol will shift to a mixed system on Thursday, with the most commonly used gasoline grades sold through the city's QR-code mechanism while other fuels return to open sale. Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev announced that at TES stations, the two non-premium grades — AI-95 and AI-92 — will be available only by QR code, while all other fuel types will be freely sold.

At three Atan stations, AI-92 will be QR-restricted with a 20-litre per-vehicle limit, while other fuels remain freely available. The city is also adjusting diesel rules: TES will sell diesel without a QR code and has raised the release limit to 40 litres, while Atan keeps its existing 20-litre cap per vehicle. Both networks are allowing drivers to fill canisters for home generators.

The announcements are the latest in a sequence that began on 22 May, when Sevastopol restricted fuel sales because of logistical difficulties, with Crimea following on 29 May. A QR-code distribution system operated from early June, was replaced on 4 August by free sales at both networks, and then partially reinstated on 11 August for non-premium fuels only. Thursday's rules keep the QR mechanism in place only for the most basic petrol grades.

Inside Sevastopol's Evolving Fuel Rationing System

The latest rules show that Sevastopol's fuel supply has not returned to normal, but the pressure has shifted from diesel to non-premium petrol. Keeping AI-92 and, at TES, AI-95 under QR control suggests these grades are the scarcest or most exposed to hoarding, while the decision to free diesel and raise its TES limit points to a better-supplied diesel position.

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Why TES and Atan now have different limits

The different caps create a two-speed retail system. TES can sell diesel at up to 40 litres per vehicle and keeps both AI-92 and AI-95 under QR control, while Atan QR-restricts only AI-92 and holds its general limit at 20 litres. For diesel buyers, TES is the more generous option; for premium fuel, Atan appears more flexible because premium grades are not mentioned among its QR restrictions. The contrast may shift some traffic between networks based on fuel type.

What the generator rule says about local power demand

Permitting canister refills for home generators at both networks is an operational signal that generators remain an important household backup. It suggests authorities are trying to avoid a situation in which fuel rationing worsens the effects of electricity outages by cutting off generator users. That allowance, combined with the diesel limits, means demand for diesel may remain structurally higher than a simple transport-fuel measure would indicate.

A rationing pattern that keeps changing

The timeline matters. Sevastopol restricted sales in May, introduced QR distribution in June, reopened free sales on 4 August, returned to QR control on 11 August, and is now applying a mixed system. For fuel retailers and customers, the repeated rule changes mean the current arrangement is best treated as an administrative adjustment rather than a stable market reopening. Each change reflects the same underlying constraint: logistics difficulties that have not been resolved.

What Sevastopol Drivers Should Do Under Thursday's Rules

For drivers and businesses in Sevastopol, the practical effect depends on the fuel you need and the station you choose.

  • At TES: AI-92 and AI-95 are QR-only. Diesel and other fuels are free, with diesel capped at 40 litres per vehicle.
  • At Atan: only AI-92 is QR-limited, with a 20-litre cap per car; other fuels are free and the general per-vehicle limit remains 20 litres.
  • For generator owners: both networks allow canister refuelling, so you can fill home-generator containers within the stated diesel caps — 40 litres at TES, 20 litres at Atan.
  • Expect further adjustments: the rules have changed three times since early August, so verify Thursday's status before relying on a particular grade or limit.

Risk & Opportunity Assessment

Commercial RiskMediumQR-only sales for AI-92 and AI-95 at TES and AI-92 at Atan restrict high-volume petrol sales, while repeated rule changes complicate retail planning.
Competitive RiskMediumDifferent diesel caps — 40 litres at TES versus 20 litres at Atan — and different QR coverage on petrol grades may shift diesel and premium petrol customers toward less-restricted stations.
Regulatory RiskMediumThe local administration has changed fuel distribution rules repeatedly since May, most recently returning QR controls on 11 August and now applying a hybrid system; retailers must follow quickly shifting operational orders.
Reputation RiskMediumVisible QR rationing and per-vehicle limits can fuel public frustration with local authorities and fuel networks, especially after a brief return to free sales on 4 August.
Technology DisruptionLowThe QR system is already in use and is an administrative control, not a new competitive technology.
Commercial OpportunityMediumTES can capture more diesel demand with its higher 40-litre limit, and the canister allowance expands the addressable use case for home generator refuelling.