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Novak instructs oil companies to ensure additional fuel supplies to Russian regions

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed oil companies and regional authorities to ensure additional fuel supplies and prevent local disruptions, with particular attention to the Irkutsk and Trans-Baikal regions. The measures come amid summer peak demand, unscheduled refinery repairs, and the impact of drone attacks on refineries, as the government also considers importing petroleum products and bans on exports to stabilize the market.

By Tertius News AI Desk 1 outlet · 6 articles Version 1 Coverage Jul 1–10, 2026 Published Aug 15

Lead

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed oil companies, regional authorities, and industry companies to take all possible measures to prevent local disruptions in fuel supplies and ensure additional deliveries to meet domestic demand. The instructions were issued at government meetings on the fuel market situation in early July, according to statements from the Cabinet of Ministers reported by TASS.

Coverage Comparison

TASS reported on several related developments across multiple articles. One report described a government meeting on July 7, where Novak instructed agencies and companies to continue daily monitoring and promptly take all possible measures to prevent localized fuel supply disruptions. Another article detailed a July 3 meeting where Novak specifically instructed oil companies to ensure additional fuel supplies to rapidly meet regional demand, with particular attention to the Irkutsk Region and the Trans-Baikal Region, where the situation remained strained.

At a July 8 meeting between President Vladimir Putin and the government, Novak announced that Russia would begin importing petroleum products in July to stabilize the fuel market, including sourcing products of lower environmental class. He also noted that the government was taking measures to stabilize the situation.

The reports also covered Novak's statements from the Bank of Russia Financial Congress in St. Petersburg on July 1, where he said that vertically integrated oil companies were keeping fuel prices at their service stations within inflation limits, while acknowledging a price gap at some independent stations.

Key Claims

According to TASS, Novak attributed price increases at some independent gas stations to supply disruptions. He said that "given the disruptions, there is currently a certain gap at gas stations owned by independent companies," describing it as a normal market situation that should even out as the market is replenished.

TASS also reported Novak's assertion that there is sufficient gasoline and diesel fuel on the domestic market despite repairs at a number of refineries, with shortages and disruptions at certain gas stations primarily due to logistical adjustments in deliveries from plants to specific oil depots and service stations.

The fuel market situation was described as "tough" given summer peak demand and unscheduled oil refinery repairs, Novak stated at a meeting at the government's situation center on July 7. He emphasized that the stable operation of the domestic fuel market and the uninterrupted supply of fuel to all regions remain an absolute priority.

TASS reported that Novak acknowledged Ukraine's drone attacks on refineries have caused a fuel shortage in the country. He also stated that Russia has temporarily banned the export of gasoline and diesel fuel to stabilize the fuel situation and meet domestic market needs, and that authorities are taking necessary measures to better protect oil refineries.

The government is considering additional measures to saturate the domestic petroleum product market, TASS reported. Novak also noted that a surge in panic buying had driven up demand by around 20-30%, and that realigning the system's logistics to match demand would take some time. He mentioned that a short-term ban lasting a few months on diesel exports by producers could be implemented to replenish domestic supplies.

At the July 7 meeting, the Energy Ministry reported on the general fuel supply situation across Russian regions, the current levels of petroleum products' inventory, and infrastructure operations. The Agriculture Ministry presented information on fuel supplies for the agro-industrial complex, while the Federal Antimonopoly Service reported on price monitoring and measures to address potential violations.

Novak also commented on reseller behavior, stating that some resellers are trying to exploit the situation to make extra money and raise prices, while vertically integrated companies keep their prices in line with inflation.