Russia extends gasoline export ban to end of year as Siberian shortages bite
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the gasoline export ban will run through December, while a diesel export ban will be lifted once the market recovers, as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to disrupt refining capacity.
Russia is extending its curb on gasoline exports through the end of 2026 and keeping a ban on jet fuel shipments until at least November 30, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Saturday. At the same time the diesel export ban, imposed in early July, will be removed "as the market recovers". The announcements follow months of Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries that have knocked out capacity across the country.
A cascade of export curbs
The gasoline export ban was first introduced in early April with an initial expiry date at the end of July. In June the government added a prohibition on jet fuel exports running to November 30. An outright ban on diesel exports was then announced in early July. Novak told journalists on July 25 that the diesel curb would be lifted only when conditions allow, to prevent refineries from suffering financially. The gasoline restriction is now locked in until December 31.
- Gasoline export ban announced, set to expire end of July
- Jet fuel export ban introduced, running until 30 November
- Diesel export ban imposed in response to worsening shortages
- Gasoline ban extended to 31 December; diesel ban to be lifted when market recovers
Situation on the ground
The shortages are being felt across Russia but are most acute in Siberia, which Novak described as "quite difficult". Authorities in multiple regions have imposed temporary limits on how much fuel a single customer can buy. The crisis has been building since March, when Kyiv intensified its long-range and medium-range drone campaign against oil infrastructure. Supply routes to annexed Crimea have also been heavily affected, local officials reported.
Kazakhstan steps in as supplier
With domestic output strained, Moscow is looking to its neighbours. Novak said Kazakhstan can provide surplus petroleum products if required. A first cargo of Kazakh gasoline, around 1,000 metric tons, was already shipped to one central Russian region this month. The delivery is small relative to the scale of the shortage, but the channel is now open for further shipments.
Pressure from the air
The backdrop is an escalating Ukrainian effort to degrade Russia's energy logistics. Dozens of refinery strikes since March have reduced processing capacity, driving up pump prices and draining regional reserves. The Russian government has resorted to a patchwork of export bans and local rationing while racing to restore damaged plants. Novak maintained that conditions are "gradually stabilising", but gave no timeline for a full return to normal supply.
What happens next
The diesel ban remains tied to market recovery, a threshold Novak did not define. The gasoline and jet fuel curbs are set to stay in place until late November and the end of the year respectively. With drone attacks showing no sign of abating, further rounds of emergency restrictions may follow if refinery repairs fall behind schedule.
