[83416] Russia authorizes low-quality fuel due to national inventory crisis

Russia authorizes the use of lower-standard fuel to prevent nationwide shortages

The Russian government has granted authorization to domestic refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuel to the "Euro-3" standard instead of the mandatory "Euro-5" standard, according to multiple sources based on the "Kommersant" newspaper. The move, intended to prevent fuel supply shortages, was originally approved in the fall of 2025 and was extended this past May.

According to a report in Kontext, fuel produced under the relaxed standard contains significantly higher sulfur levels than permitted—up to 150 mg/kg in gasoline and up to 350 mg/kg in diesel, compared to the original standard which limits sulfur to just 10 mg/kg. Experts interviewed by RusNews warn that this chemical composition is expected to accelerate the wear and tear of engines, catalytic converters, and exhaust systems in modern vehicles.

Reports indicate a close link between the fuel shortage and attacks on energy facilities, as according to Orange East, the shortage has led to the halting of agricultural activities in certain regions, such as the Irkutsk Oblast. The BASQA NEWS channel adds that restrictions on fuel purchases have been recorded in many cities, including Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan, following damage to "Tatneft" company infrastructure reported as linked to drone attacks.

While Moscow Chronicle presents the step as a temporary government action for crisis management, independent channels such as Russia on the Needle criticize the decline in product quality for the consumer. At the same time, sharp fuel price hikes have been reported in various regions, such as the Rostov Oblast, where an increase of approximately 4.7% has been recorded since the beginning of the year, according to data from This is Rostov.