Putin bans online publication of fuel export and oil refinery processing data in a bid to make Western sanctions harder to enforce

Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced a new decree that prohibits the publication of information regarding fuel and energy sector activities in media outlets and online platforms. This ban encompasses details of export agreements, such as the involved parties and contract quantities. Exemptions are granted to data explicitly released by energy firms themselves.

However, the decree does not stipulate any penalties for breaches, according to Reuters. The Kremlin claims this measure is a response to perceived "unfriendly" actions by Western nations, aiming to impede efforts to track adherence to sanctions. Russian authorities have a history of limiting the dissemination of fuel export data.

Rosstat, the official Russian statistics agency, has not released oil production statistics since 2023 and gasoline production statistics since 2024. The fuel crisis in Russia intensified in 2026 following Ukrainian missile strikes on the nation's oil refineries. Oil refining in Russia has reportedly plummeted to a 20-year low. Meduza, an independent news outlet, emphasizes its dedication to transparency in the utilization of artificial intelligence within its editorial processes.

This report was crafted by a human journalist and translated from Russian using an AI tool adhering to Meduza's editorial guidelines. Each draft undergoes review by a Meduza editor before publication. For any inaccuracies in this English translation, readers can reach out to reports@meduza.io. To access Meduza's exclusive English-language content, subscribe to their newsletter.