Moscow: Russia imposed a full ban on diesel fuel exports Wednesday to "increase supplies to the domestic market," according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Speaking at a government meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Novak announced plans to begin importing petroleum products in July to stabilize the country's fuel market. "We will also begin importing petroleum products in July and increase production volumes by sourcing petroleum products of a lower environmental class," said Novak. He described the country's fuel market as partially stabilized but still "challenging."

According to Anadolu Agency, the temporary ban on diesel fuel, marine fuel, and gas oil exports, effective until July 31, will apply to petroleum product producers. The government initially imposed a temporary ban on diesel fuel exports at the end of January, which only applied to non-diesel fuel producers until now. This decision comes in response to recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, which have led to several facilities suspending operations for maintenance. These attacks have prompted Moscow to periodically impose restrictions aimed at stabilizing the domestic fuel market.

In early June, Russia also imposed a temporary ban on aviation fuel exports through November 30 to maintain stability in the domestic fuel market. Ukraine's General Staff reported last month that the military struck 16 major Russian oil refineries and fuel terminals between January and June, disabling more than 30% of Russia's oil refining capacity.

President Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure had contributed to fuel shortages but insisted that the situation remained under control. "We are currently seeing a certain shortage, but it's not critical," said Putin, adding that damaged energy facilities were being restored quickly. At the end of June, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Russia plans to buy gas from abroad to stabilize the domestic market, a rare step for a country that last imported large volumes of energy resources in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.