Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced at a government meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin that Russia had imposed a ban on diesel exports effective July 8.
That is according to Meduza, Ukrinform reports.
"The fuel situation remains difficult. The forced reduction in fuel production has, among other things, led to changes in delivery routes to end consumers," Novak said, without specifying the reasons for the decline in production.
To address the shortage, Novak announced plans to import petroleum products and said production would be increased by using fuels that meet lower environmental standards.
Russia's fuel problems began after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries. By the end of June, the crisis had spread to more than half of Russia's regions, with authorities in many of them imposing restrictions on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel.
According to expert estimates, Russia's oil refining output fell by about 25% in June, while gasoline production dropped by around 17%, falling short of domestic demand.
Demand for diesel fuel also rises seasonally during the summer as agricultural machinery is refueled ahead of the harvest campaign.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that Ukraine's successful strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure were helping bring the war to an end.
