Russia Bans Jet Fuel Exports Until November 30, 2026 After Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Russia announced it is temporarily banning jet fuel exports until the end of November 2026, saying the move is meant to ensure domestic supply amid intensifying Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refining infrastructure.

“Ukrainian drones struck an oil tanker in the port of Taganrog and an oil depot in the city of Armavir, in southern Russia, overnight Friday into Saturday, local authorities reported”

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The ban is set to run through November 30, 2026, with supplies under intergovernmental agreements exempted, and the Russian government said it is not expected to be felt on the tight international jet fuel market because Russia is a small exporter of aviation fuels.

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The restriction follows a ban on gasoline exports in force since April 1, as Russia said its refining capacity and capability have been crippled in recent weeks by intensifying drone attacks from Ukraine.

Kyiv has targeted major refiners and oil export terminals, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that Ukraine targeted the 300,000-barrels per day Yaroslavl oil refinery in Russia.

Zelenskyy framed the campaign in a May statement: “We are bringing the war back home – to Russia – and that’s only fair,” as the attack on the Yaroslavl refinery, co-owned by Gazprom Neft, was described as the fourth on the facility in one month.

Euronews reported that in the early hours of Saturday, drones hit the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, triggering a large fire visible in videos shared on social networks.

Euronews said a second drone attack later hit the Syzran refinery, also in the Samara region, with images showing flames near a tank park containing both crude oil and refined products ready for distribution.

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Euronews added that during the night another drone attack targeted an industrial site in Tikhoretsk in Krasnodar territory, and that the fire required intervention by “oltre 200 vigili del fuoco” and “decine di mezzi” to be brought under control.

In parallel, Euronews said that from the evening of April 17 Russia launched 219 drones against Ukraine, with Ukrainian air defenses destroying or neutralizing 190, including Shahed loitering munitions, while the remaining 28 drones hit 17 localities.

Euronews also reported that “Detriti dei velivoli abbattuti sono caduti in altri nove siti,” as it described the use of aircraft, missile units, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups for air defense.

Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil export infrastructure are described by tv5monde as targeting the heart of Russia’s crude and fuel export system, with strikes aimed at Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, and Primorsk near Finland.

“Russia is banning exports of jet fuel through November 30, 2026, as it looks to ensure domestic supply amid intensifying Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian refining infrastructure”

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tv5monde reported that at least 40% of Russia’s crude export capacity has been suspended due to drone attacks, a missile strike on a pipeline, and the seizure of oil tankers, citing Reuters calculations based on market data.

tv5monde said the port of Ust-Luga, operated by Transneft, handles about 700,000 barrels per day of oil exports and that industry sources cited by Reuters reported shipping 32.9 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2025.

In a separate account, L’actualité said Ukraine launched strikes against targets including the port of Primorsk on the Baltic Sea, described as Russia’s largest oil export port on that sea, and quoted regional governor Alexander Drozdenko saying the drone strike did not cause an oil spill.

L’actualité also quoted Zelensky on Telegram, writing: «Un autre porte-missiles russe de type Kalibr est hors d’état de fonctionner. Le général de division Yevhen Khmara (le chef du Service de sécurité d’Ukraine) a fait état de la destruction réussie de cibles dans le port de Primorsk».