Russia is reportedly permitting its oil refineries to lower fuel quality to a reduced environmental standard in order to avoid shortages, as Ukrainian drone attacks on the country's energy infrastructure have doubled in 2026 compared to the previous year, according to a report by the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
Russia has reportedly authorized its oil refineries to lower production quality to a less stringent environmental standard, aiming to prevent fuel shortages as Ukrainian drone strikes on energy infrastructure intensify. The report, published by the Russian business daily Kommersant, notes that Ukrainian one-way attack drone attacks on Russian energy facilities have doubled in 2026 compared to 2025. The move comes amid a series of Ukrainian long-range drone campaigns targeting Russian oil depots, refineries, and fuel storage facilities, as The Zioneer has previously reported. Over the past week alone, Ukrainian drones struck fuel facilities in Yaroslavl and Samara oblasts. Russia has imposed fuel sale restrictions in several regions amid growing supply disruptions. The Kommersant report is a single-source account; no official confirmation of the policy change has been issued by Russian authorities at this time.
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