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Russia has brought in a ban on diesel exports as Moscow seeks to mitigate the impact of a worsening fuel crisis sparked by Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure.
“A ban on diesel fuel exports has been introduced today,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said during a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. “This will enable us to increase supplies to the domestic market in July”.
Kyiv has been ramping up its attacks on Russia’s energy industry in recent months, particularly targeting oil facilities such as refineries, depots, and terminals. The attacks have led to fuel shortages and a spike in prices across parts of Russia and Russian-occupied territories, with people forced to queue for hours at petrol stations amid limited supply.
Novak said the situation remained “challenging” and that the petrol station issue was “causing concern” among locals.
He added that a number of other measures had been introduced in an effort to “stabilise” the market, including increasing the “capacity utilisation of our existing refineries to maximum” and shortening or rescheduling maintenance work.
The Kremlin reportedly later said that the diesel ban would not apply to diesel fuel exported under existing international government agreements and that it would be in effect until 31 July.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted video footage to social media appearing to show the aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Saratov oil refinery in southwestern Russia.
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence said it had carried out the attack alongside security services and border guards.
“The facility is listed among the aggressor state’s key oil refineries and continuously supplies the Russian army with fuel,” it said in a statement.
It comes as parts of the southern Ukrainian port city of Kherson were left without electricity on Thursday following Russian strikes, according to local authorities.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 94 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. Local air defences intercepted 72 of the drones, it added.