Fuel Crisis in Russia Spurs Rise of Car 'Spell' Services to Reduce Consumption

Russia's worsening fuel shortage has led to long queues at gas stations, fueling price hikes and restrictions on refueling. Amid this crisis, a new service sector has emerged, offering mystical solutions to reduce car fuel consumption. These services, provided by so-called psychics, mediums, and card readers, claim that excessive fuel use is sometimes caused not by mechanical issues but by curses, negative energy, or hidden cursed objects in the vehicle.

These practitioners propose rituals involving candles, incense, and forest ceremonies, charging between 1,500 and 16,000 rubles (approximately 60 to 630 shekels) for their services. One medium told a client she saw a "wicked woman" causing fuel to disappear rapidly from the tank and recommended a special ritual with mystical symbols to protect the car. Clients are asked to photograph their cars and search for hidden cursed items while keeping the treatment secret.

Some claim they can spiritually "upgrade" the quality of gasoline from AI-92 to the more expensive AI-100 through rituals, despite the octane rating being chemically determined and unaffected by such practices. Experts emphasize that high fuel consumption usually results from common mechanical problems such as engine faults, dirty injectors, faulty sensors, incorrect tire pressure, fuel quality, or driving habits.

Russian authorities warn that charging money for impossible promises may constitute consumer fraud and could lead to investigations. Nevertheless, as the fuel shortage persists, many drivers appear willing to try even unconventional remedies beyond standard vehicle maintenance. With hours-long waits at gas stations and rapidly emptying tanks, some prefer to blame a mysterious curse rather than mechanical failure.