The background is ongoing drone attacks by the Ukrainian military on the Russian oil industry.Image: www.imago-images.de
June 1, 2026, 2:13 p.mJune 1, 2026, 2:13 p.m
The Russian government has banned the export of kerosene for the first time. “The aim of the decision is to ensure a stable situation on the internal fuel market,” said a statement from the Russian government on Monday.
The measure should therefore apply until November 30th. Excluded from the regulation are quantities of kerosene that are already at customs or are being shipped on the basis of bilateral government agreements. In addition, it should still be possible to refuel foreign aircraft at Russian airports.
The restrictions on kerosene come into force for the first time. The Russian government has already restricted the sale of gasoline and diesel abroad.
Russian oil industry in distress
The background is ongoing drone attacks by the Ukrainian military on the Russian oil industry. Kiev is defending itself against the invasion ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin more than four years ago. In May alone, 16 Russian refineries were damaged, including 8 of the 10 largest.
Crude oil processing in Russia is now at its lowest level in more than ten years. Since the weekend, drivers on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula have only been able to fill up with fuel by presenting vouchers or in small quantities.
The export ban on kerosene has little impact on the global market situation. Russia has a market share of around two percent. The main customer so far has been Turkey. (sda/awp/dpa)