Russian government claims fuel market is "partially" stabilising

The Russian government has claimed "partial stabilisation" of the fuel market thanks to a ban on petroleum product exports and a shift to fuel imports, although the situation remains tense in a number of regions.

Source: Meduza, a Russian independent news website

Details: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said measures to ban petroleum product exports, saturate the market through imports, increase production volumes and postpone refinery repairs has had an effect.

Quote: "The market is partly stabilising, restrictions are being lifted in many regions, and this can be seen in the number of petrol stations operating and in shorter queues."

More details: Nevertheless, Novak admitted that the situation remains tense "in some regions".

He said today they were discussing with companies "on a case-by-case basis" how to supply these regions with petroleum products.

Russian oil refineries have begun returning to fuel sales on the St Petersburg Exchange after attacks by Ukraine's Armed Forces and emergency repairs.

Meduza reported refineries with a combined capacity of about 40 million tonnes of oil a year have returned to selling fuel on the exchange. However, some major companies, which account for more than 45 million tonnes of refining annually, have not yet resumed trading.

Background:

• Russia will begin importing diesel after Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries triggered a shortage estimated at nearly 40%, prompting filling stations to impose purchase limits and farmers to report supply shortages.
• In the first ten days of July, median prices for AI-92 petrol in Russia rose by 20% and AI-95 increased by 24%.
• A fuel crisis is unfolding in Russia and the occupied territories amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries: shortages of automotive fuel, previously seen in occupied Sevastopol and Crimea, have spread to Moscow Oblast.
• It was also reported that petrol production in Russia had fallen to around 65% of average seasonal consumption after Ukrainian drone attacks forced major refineries to suspend operations.
• On 10 July, Alexander Novak stated that the market is experiencing a fuel shortage linked to the need to repair refineries following Ukrainian drone strikes.
• In early June, Novak acknowledged that Russian oil production had declined since the start of 2026 due to "unscheduled repairs" at refineries.
• On 8 July, Russia introduced a full ban on diesel exports and announced plans to begin imports.

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