Desperate Putin forced into 4-month gas ban as | Political News

Russia is set to quickly halt all gasoline exports starting April 1, a transfer probably pushed by rising home fuel costs partly attributed to Ukraine’s sustained long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, according to analysts.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed the Ministry of Energy to put together laws prohibiting gasoline exports from April 1 through July 31, 2026, to stabilize home pricing and guarantee sufficient provide to the home market. Reports also point out he has requested main business figures to start offering financial help to the Government, which is “desperate for economic relief,” according to the Institute for the Study of War.

This development follows an intensive bombing operation concentrating on Russia‘s oil services. On Saturday, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces hit the Yaroslavl Oil Refinery in Yaroslavl City, Yaroslavl Oblast, during in a single day operations from March 27 to 28, igniting a fire, stories Daily Express UK.

The facility reportedly processes roughly 15 million tons of petroleum merchandise yearly and produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel important to Russian navy operations.

As Ukraine‘s strikes have intensified, gasoline costs across Russia have surged dramatically since autumn 2025, compounding the warfare’s financial pressure as inflation climbs, real income declines, and family items stay costly.

Russia beforehand suspended gasoline exports in September 2025 but eliminated the restriction for major exporters at the close of January 2026. Putin’s growing desperation has reportedly prolonged to soliciting financial help from main businessmen to maintain his navy marketing campaign against Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Analysts famous: “Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly requested that Russia’s top businessmen provide funding for the Russian government, indicating that the Kremlin may be growing desperate for economic relief and may be setting conditions to nationalise their assets to support the war effort.”

The Russian unbiased publication The Bell reported that Putin convened a personal assembly with outstanding business leaders on March 26, allegedly in search of their continued backing of Russia’s navy operations in Ukraine.

Sources informed the publication that the proposal originated from Igor Sechin, the pinnacle of Rosneft, Russia’s state-controlled vitality giant, who also urged the issuance of navy bonds.

Billionaire Suleiman Kerimov reportedly dedicated 100 billion rubles, while further businessmen provided contributions of undisclosed quantities.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the assembly occurred but refuted claims that Putin solicited funds, asserting that any donations are voluntary and not earmarked particularly for the navy marketing campaign.