In Russia, for the first time since 2022, the number of liquidations of private gas stations exceeded the number of registrations of new stations, - Kommersant From January to September 2026, 935 companies and individual entrepreneurs involved in the retail sale of fuel were liquidated in Russia, Kommersant writes, citing its calculations based on data from the Outline Service. focus. This is 16.7% more than the corresponding period last year, and the highest figure since 2022. At the same time, the number of new participants in the market decreased by 28.4%, to 668, the newspaper notes. For every ten new participants in January-September 2026, there will be about 14 departures. According to the managing partner of Kastkin Consulting, Dmitry Kastkin, independent gas stations occupy about 60% of the market in terms of the number of gas stations, but provide only 30-40% of fuel sales. In total, as of October 1, 10.72 thousand worked in Russia. Companies and entrepreneurs in this sector - 2.9% less than a year before. Analysts attribute the decline in the market to fuel supply disruptions due to "unplanned refinery repairs", rising prices and wholesale costs, as well as a reduction in oil companies' barter sales standards from 15% to 10%. All this worsened the profitability of independent gas stations and limited their access to fuel at affordable prices. The industry also points to accumulated debts, losses and tax issues as reasons for the liquidation of individual companies. Kommersant does not specify what the "unplanned refinery repairs" are related to. Earlier on October 30, ASTRA determined that an oil refinery, which also produces jet fuel for the needs of the Russian armed forces, burned in Novokovyshevsk, Samara Region, amid a drone attack. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Ukraine, after a pause, attacked three Russian refineries and one gas chemical complex on October 30. Buy ASTRA VPN - this is your reliable way to bypass any block.