Information on the current losses of Russia due to sanctions as of 06/04/2026.
1. The Russian government is forced to increase currency interventions amid budget filling problems and the abnormal strengthening of the ruble.
– From June 5 to July 6, the Russian Ministry of Finance will direct 208.2 billion rubles of additional oil and gas revenues for the purchase of currency and gold, with a daily transaction volume of 9.9 billion rubles.
– The Russian Central Bank will increase purchases to 5.3 billion rubles per day—4.4 times more than in May—to replenish the National Welfare Fund, whose resources have been depleted due to military expenditures and the budget deficit.
– Despite the average price of Russian oil for May tax calculations reaching $95 per barrel—the highest level since 2014—additional budget revenues turned out to be significantly lower than expected. Instead of the projected 330 billion rubles, the government received only 208 billion.
– The budget revenues of Russia are falling due to reduced oil production and refinery problems after strikes. As a result, the government is more actively intervening in the currency market to curb the strengthening of the ruble and support export revenues.
2. In Russia, demand for cash is increasing due to internet disruptions, increased tax pressure, and growing distrust of the financial system.
– According to the Russian Central Bank, at the end of April, the volume of cash in circulation reached a record 20 trillion rubles. About 600 billion rubles were withdrawn from the banking system in just one month—the most since the 2022 mobilization. Russian banks are recording a massive shift of the population and businesses to cash transactions.
– Entrepreneurs are increasingly offering discounts for payments without using banking services, trying to avoid heightened control from the state and tax authorities.
– The situation is exacerbated by regular mobile internet outages, which have become common in many Russian regions. This results in disruptions in cashless payments and online banking, further pushing citizens to use cash.
– The increase in cash transactions indicates a growth in the shadow economy and a decline in trust in the Russian government’s financial policies. Meanwhile, the Russian Central Bank continues to tighten control over cash operations, forcing banks to verify the source of customer funds.
3. Russian “AvtoVAZ” is preparing to reduce production due to problems with selling cars in external markets.
– The company will revise the production plan for 2026, which envisaged the production of 400,000 cars, including 30,000 for export. In 2025, “AvtoVAZ” sold almost 351,400 cars, of which only 23,000 were exported. To meet the 2026 plan, the company would need to sell about 30,800 cars monthly on the domestic market and another 2,500 for export.
– However, sales continue to decline. In the first quarter of 2026, sales of Lada cars fell by 17.4% year-on-year to 63,800 units. In January, sales dropped by 29% to 19,600 cars, in February by 22.5% to 19,000, and in March totaled 25,200 cars.
– Due to weak demand, the company plans to redirect some of the cars intended for export to the domestic market.
– If the current sales rates persist, the annual sales volume of “AvtoVAZ” may not even reach 300,000 cars, which will further demonstrate the deepening problems in the Russian automotive industry.
4. Apple removed the Russian state messenger Max, developed by VK, from the App Store.
– Previously, a Telegram clone called Telega also disappeared from the platform. At the end of April, the Max domain was marked by Cloudflare as potential “spyware.” Later, this labeling was removed, but specialized publications reported on identified security issues and several concerns regarding the service’s operation.
– The removal of Max from the App Store became another blow to the Kremlin’s attempts to create a controlled digital ecosystem and promote a state messenger as an alternative to international platforms.
5. The U.S. House of Representatives has opened the way for a vote on a new aid package for Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia.
– The procedural decision, which allows the bill to be considered for final approval, was voted for by 218 congressmen, with 204 opposing. A final vote is expected shortly.
– The bill became the first major initiative supporting Ukraine to make significant progress in Congress after Donald Trump returned to the White House.
– The document provides for over $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, as well as up to $8 billion in support in the form of loans. In addition, it includes provisions for new sanctions and export restrictions against Russia, specifically targeting the financial sector, the oil industry, and the mining industry.
– The advancement of the bill sends another signal of continued bipartisan support for Ukraine in the U.S., despite some Republicans’ attempts to reduce American aid to Kyiv.
– For Russia, the adoption of the document could mean further economic pressure on key sources of foreign exchange earnings, primarily the oil and gas sector, which remains one of the main sources of funding for the war against Ukraine.
6. TotalEnergies exits the sanctioned “Arctic LNG-2” project after authorization from Putin.
– The French energy company TotalEnergies has been granted permission to sell its 10% stake in the Russian project “Arctic LNG-2,” which is under Western sanctions. The buyer of the asset will be the company “Nordline” — a subsidiary of “Novatek,” created in May this year.
– After the completion of the deal, Novatek’s share in the project will effectively increase, while TotalEnergies will formally exit from the direct participants of “Arctic LNG-2.”
– The French company acquired its stake in the project in 2019, but after the full-scale war of Russia against Ukraine began, it stopped new investments, wrote off over $4 billion in assets, and declared force majeure on contracts for the purchase of liquefied natural gas from the plant due to international sanctions.
– Despite the exit from “Arctic LNG-2,” TotalEnergies will retain an indirect presence in the project through owning 19.4% of Novatek’s shares.
7. France has arrested the captain of a tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet, detained at the end of May in the Atlantic Ocean.
– The vessel Tagor, which is under international sanctions, was headed from Russia and, according to French authorities, was used to finance the war against Ukraine.
– The tanker sailed under a false Cameroonian flag, and its crew did not comply with the requirements of the French military. The captain faces up to one year in prison and a fine of €150,000. Similar responsibility may await the ship’s owner, whose identity is currently being established.
– This is the third tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet detained by France since the beginning of 2026. Increased control over such vessels makes it more difficult for the Kremlin to use schemes to bypass international sanctions and export oil circumventing established restrictions.
8. The European Union is preparing new sanctions against Chinese companies that are helping Russia bypass international restrictions and support its war against Ukraine.
– The new package may include four Chinese companies, which, according to the EU, facilitate the operation of Russia’s shadow fleet, supply chemical substances for military needs, and components for manufacturing strike drones.
– Additionally, five companies from the United Arab Emirates, three from Turkey, and one from Azerbaijan may also come under sanctions, as, according to European officials, they assist Russia in conducting maritime transportation and export of energy resources circumventing restrictions.
– Furthermore, the EU is considering imposing sanctions on subsidiaries of “Lukoil” as well as dozens of individuals and legal entities involved in supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex. The corresponding package of restrictions is expected to be approved by EU foreign ministers on June 15.
– The new measures aim to increase pressure on the network of international intermediaries that help the Kremlin mitigate the consequences of sanctions and finance aggression against Ukraine.
9. Eleven European countries have called on the European Commission to significantly strengthen restrictions on issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens due to the ongoing war against Ukraine.
– The initiators of the appeal are the Baltic countries, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, as well as Iceland and Norway. They emphasize that Russian tourists should not freely enjoy the benefits of vacationing in Europe while Russia wages an aggressive war.
– The letter notes that the current EU recommendations for thorough vetting of applicants from Russia are being implemented unevenly. This allows Russians to engage in so-called “visa shopping” — obtaining visas in countries with looser requirements and freely moving within the Schengen Area.
– The initiating countries propose implementing stricter pan-European rules that would allow for rapid restriction of entry to citizens of states posing a geopolitical threat.
– The initiative is yet another indication of growing support in Europe for increasing pressure on Russia and reducing privileges for its citizens amid the ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
