London —
Russia has fully banned exports of diesel after Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries triggered widespread fuel shortages and as the global energy market braces for more disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the ban in a televised meeting alongside President Vladimir Putin, saying the decision was intended to “increase supplies to the domestic market.”
Russia had already imposed a partial ban that prevents non-producers, like fuel traders, from selling diesel abroad. Wednesday’s ban extends that restriction to producers, encompassing the entirety of the market, Natalia Losada, senior oil products analyst at Energy Aspects, explained to CNN.
Earlier in the week, Novak claimed that the Russian market was “fully supplied” with both diesel and gasoline, despite scenes of long lines of cars and trucks outside the country’s stations – putting the reality of its more than four-year war with Ukraine into sharp focus.
