Russia has allowed some oil refineries to produce fuel with lower environmental standards for the domestic market as repeated Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure disrupt supplies, according to a report by the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
The move comes as drone strikes on Russian refineries have sharply increased since the beginning of 2026, leading to partial or complete shutdowns of oil processing facilities and reducing the production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
According to Kommersant, Russian authorities decided last autumn to relax environmental requirements for certain refineries to help avert potential fuel shortages. The measure was reportedly extended on 1 May.
Under the temporary rules, gasoline sold domestically can contain up to 150 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, around 15 times the maximum level permitted in Europe, China and India.
The new standards also allow a higher concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds associated with environmental and health risks.
Reuters said it could not independently locate official documents detailing the regulatory changes.
Industry sources told the news agency that only a limited number of refineries have so far produced fuel under the relaxed specifications.
Despite the measures, reports of fuel supply disruptions have emerged in around a dozen Russian regions, according to information compiled by Reuters from media and social media reports.
Wholesale prices have also surged. Exchange-traded lots of AI-95 gasoline and diesel on the St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange rose by 10% during the first half of June, and traders say prices remain unstable.
On Monday, officials in the Udmurt Republic, east of Moscow, announced temporary restrictions on the sale of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline at service stations operated by Tatneft.
Meanwhile, long queues formed at petrol stations in the city of Sevastopol as motorists waited to refuel.
One driver, identified only as Alyona, expressed little confidence that the situation would improve soon.
"How can it be solved, how?" she said. "Only if the special military operation ends."
The latest disruptions highlight the growing pressure on Russia's energy sector as Ukrainian drone attacks increasingly target refineries and fuel infrastructure.
The strikes have complicated domestic fuel supplies and raised concerns about further shortages, forcing authorities to consider emergency measures that could come at the expense of environmental standards and fuel quality.
Uzbekistan is preparing for one of its hottest weeks of the year, with electricity demand expected to approach a record as temperatures are forecast t...
Iran has said it remains determined to pursue legal action against Israel and the United States over the deaths of senior officials and civilians duri...
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers followi...
Iran has said it remains determined to pursue legal action against Israel and the United States over the deaths of senior officials and civilians during recent military confrontations, insisting it will seek accountability through international bodies.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents across the country.
Pakistan on Sunday expressed "deep concern" over the latest escalation in the Middle East following renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. It urged all sides to exercise restraint and honour commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents across the country.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
A 93-year-old British woman has died after being injured in wildfires that swept through southeastern Spain's Almeria province, regional authorities said, bringing the confirmed death toll to 13 people.
More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with older people accounting for the vast majority of the toll, according to official mortality data.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment