Russia bans diesel exports amid Ukrainian drone strikes
Fires continued to erupt overnight into Thursday at oil depots and refineries across several Russian regions. In a bid to secure domestic supplies, the Russian government has halted all diesel exports.
Before Ukrainian drone strikes began targeting Russia's refineries, the country produced around 86 million tonnes of diesel annually, of which roughly 31 million tonnes were exported.
"Today, we introduced a ban on diesel fuel exports. This will allow us to increase supplies to the domestic market. In July, we will also begin importing petroleum products," Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak said at a government meeting chaired by dictator Vladimir Putin.
The export ban will remain in place until at least the end of July.
Novak added that operating refineries would increase diesel production by using petroleum products that meet lower environmental standards, according to Interfax.
An estimated 20–25 per cent of Russia's diesel production has been disrupted by the Ukrainian drone campaign, while at times around one-third of the country's total refining capacity has been knocked offline.
Earlier this spring, the government temporarily imposed an embargo on petrol exports.
There are now shortages of both petrol and diesel across much of Russia, with fuel prices rising sharply. On the Kola Peninsula, petrol prices range from around 70 to 100 roubles per litre, while in Arkhangelsk they have reportedly climbed to as much as 140 roubles per litre.
In Murmansk, motorists are limited to purchasing 30 litres per visit, according to SeverPost. Unlike in many other regions, where drivers are facing queues lasting several hours, petrol remains relatively easy to obtain in the city, the regional news outlet reported.
For motorists travelling south from the Murmansk region towards Moscow or St Petersburg, however, the situation becomes far more difficult because of severe petrol shortages in Karelia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strikes as part of Kyiv's campaign of "long-range sanctions", carried out in response to Russia's full-scale invasion and the Kremlin's refusal to end its attacks.
"We have long proposed that Russia end this war, and every day of delay should bring the feeling of war to where it all began – to Russia," Mr Zelensky said, according to the Associated Press.
