Russia Halts Jet Fuel Exports Until November 2026 as Drone Strikes Cripple Refineries

Russia has imposed a temporary ban on jet fuel exports, effective immediately on June 1, 2026, and remaining in force until November 30, 2026. The Russian government announced the measure to stabilize the domestic fuel market after a sustained wave of Ukrainian drone attacks reduced national refining output to its lowest level in more than sixteen years.

The decision follows mounting pressure on Russia's refining sector. Ukrainian strikes have repeatedly forced major facilities offline, with refineries at Tuapse, Kirishi, Yaroslavl and Saratov among those disrupted in recent weeks. Crude processing volumes have fallen sharply, and diesel production declined roughly 10 percent in both April and May. The new measure closes a loophole that had previously left producer refineries operated by companies such as Rosneft and Lukoil exempt from earlier fuel export restrictions.

The ban includes three exemption categories. Fuel carried by aircraft for their own in-flight use is not affected. Aviation kerosene that completed customs clearance before the ban took effect remains permitted for shipment. Fuel supplied under intergovernmental cooperation agreements is also excluded from the restriction. The control covers aviation kerosene procured through commodity exchange channels, which authorities say is intended to keep domestic aviation fuel supply stable.

The new restriction builds on earlier export controls. A gasoline export ban has been in effect since April 1, 2026, and officials have continued to debate whether to extend similar curbs to diesel. As of early June, no diesel ban has been finalized, with some officials describing such a step as unlikely because domestic supply remains adequate. The government has stated that reliable and uninterrupted fuel supply to the home market remains the priority and that further response measures could follow if conditions require.

The direct impact on international jet fuel markets is expected to be limited. Russia is a relatively small exporter of aviation fuel, shipping most of its volumes by rail to neighboring Central Asian states including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These markets will be the most exposed to the reduced flow, though the intergovernmental exemption may soften the effect for some buyers operating under existing agreements.

The broader concern lies in the trajectory of Russian refining capacity. With throughput dropping to multi-year lows and the International Energy Agency cutting its 2026 forecast for Russian processing by around 150,000 barrels per day to roughly 5 million barrels per day, repeated infrastructure damage points to a longer-term squeeze. Jet fuel is also burned by Russian combat aviation, which adds a strategic dimension to the domestic supply pressures. Airlines, fuel traders and importing nations in the region are now assessing how the policy will shape availability through the second half of the year, with the restriction set to remain active until at least November 30, 2026.