The Day of the Fuel Market Stabilization Directives

Early in the day, editors focused on continuing US strikes in Iran and retaliatory IRGC operations, extending the escalation from the previous evening. However, attention quickly shifted to domestic infrastructure as Ukrainian drone strikes hit refineries in Krasnodar and Yaroslavl, resulting in fires and a casualty. By early afternoon, headlines centered on President Putin’s address to the United Russia party congress. Putin framed the current period as "destiny-defining" for the country, while independent outlets like Meduza highlighted the exclusion of Dmitry Medvedev from the party’s top candidate list for the first time in 19 years. In the evening, the narrative was dominated by the deepening domestic fuel crisis. Following reports of supply shortages in Irkutsk, Putin chaired a meeting to stabilize the market. He ordered increased supplies to Crimea and the rapid restoration of damaged facilities, acknowledging the deficit while framing it as manageable.