Putin bans publication of fuel export and refining data amid sanctions pressure

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree prohibiting the publication in media and online of information about operations in the fuel and energy sector. The ban covers details of export deals, including the parties involved and contract volumes.

Only information disclosed by the energy companies themselves is exempt from the restriction. However, the outlet The Bell notes that the decree sets out no penalties for violations.

Framed as a sanctions response

According to Reuters, the decree was officially presented as a response to "unfriendly" actions by the West, aimed at making it harder to monitor compliance with sanctions.

Russian authorities have repeatedly restricted the publication of fuel export data in the past. The state statistics agency Rosstat has not published oil production figures since 2023 or gasoline production figures since 2024.

Fuel crisis

A fuel crisis began in Russia in 2026 amid Ukrainian military strikes on the country's oil refineries. By various estimates, oil refining volumes in Russia have fallen to their lowest level in 20 years.