Russia’s government is reportedly weighing a complete ban on diesel exports in an effort to stabilize its domestic fuel market, as shortages and rising prices intensify following Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and supply infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated on Tuesday that conditions in the domestic fuel market remain challenging, adding that a comprehensive ban on diesel exports is now under consideration alongside existing restrictions on gasoline and jet fuel.
“We have maxed out capacity across all oil refineries, shortened repair timelines, and postponed scheduled maintenance to later dates,” Novak said.
Novak’s latest remarks signal a shift from earlier this month, when he dismissed the need for a blanket diesel ban. At present, only domestic producers are permitted to export fuel. He also sought to minimize concerns over rationing measures, calling them minor delivery issues, though nearly two dozen regions have introduced fuel purchase limits in recent weeks.
Gasoline prices in Russia have risen 6.6% since the beginning of the year, with a sharp weekly increase pushing the national average to 69.11 rubles per liter ($3.56 per gallon) as of June 15.
Earlier this month, the Energy Ministry formed an ‘industry-wide task force’ with major energy firms to safeguard stable operations while acknowledging for the first time that Ukrainian drone strikes were directly responsible for ongoing difficulties in the domestic fuel market.
Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil refineries and supply routes since the spring. The drone attacks have disrupted or curtailed operations at facilities responsible for a significant share of Russia’s gasoline production.
Industry sources told Reuters that Russia is expected to import fuel from Asia by sea this month to address the shortages. According to the agency, domestic gasoline output is currently about 25% lower than the June 2025 average. Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers are reportedly expediting tax measures to establish subsidies intended to finance gasoline imports from India.
METAL WORLD | Seoul Agrees with EU on Steel Import Quota Framework
