Information on current Russian losses due to sanctions as of 09/20/2026.
1. Ukrainian drones have once again reached key infrastructure near Moscow.
– On the night of September 20, Ukrainian drones attacked two important sites in the Moscow region — a large logistics complex in Sofyino and the Moscow Refinery in Kapotnya.
– After the attack in Sofyino, a massive fire broke out on the territory of a large logistics complex with an area of about 850,000 sq. m. Reportedly, there are warehouse facilities of Ozon and other companies.
– In Kapotnya, drones attacked the Moscow Refinery of “Gazprom Neft” — one of Russia’s largest refineries and a key fuel source for Moscow and the Moscow region. During the attack, a facility on the enterprise’s territory was damaged, and a fire broke out. Preliminary data suggests that the ELOU-AVT-6 unit area might have been affected.
– The Moscow Refinery had already suffered from Ukrainian strikes in June. Then, a facility on the enterprise was also damaged due to a UAV attack.
2. Export of cars from Russia to Kazakhstan has plummeted to almost zero, according to data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics.
– From January to July, Kazakhstan imported passenger cars from Russia worth only $9.8 million. In January, the imports were $1 million, in February and March $1.5 million each, in April $5.5 million. In May, exports plummeted to $111,000, in June to $72,000, and in July amounted to only $943.
– In May, Kazakhstan increased the utilization fee for cars from Russia and Belarus. For engines up to 1 liter, the rate increased 14.7 times — from 1.5 to 22, for engines 1–2 liters — 38.9 times, from 3.5 to 136, and for engines 2–3 liters — 32.8 times, from 5 to 164.
– Kazakhstan called this a mirror response to Russia increasing the utilization fee, which also led to a sharp decrease in car imports from EEU countries to Russia. In 2025, car imports from Kazakhstan to Russia halved — from 22,900 to 10,000 units.
3. Russia’s largest developer “SamoleT” is nearing bankruptcy.
– Its revenue fell by 31% in the first half of the year, with a net loss of 22 billion rubles. Loan payments over six months reached 49.4 billion rubles, exceeding the pre-tax profit of 41.8 billion rubles. The debt to its largest creditor, Sberbank, amounts to 294 billion rubles.
– “SamoleT” shares have plunged more than 70% since the start of the year, and 93% since early 2024.
– On the Russian new construction market, about two-thirds of apartments remain unsold — the highest figure since the pandemic crisis of 2020. In the first half of the year, the number of defaults by Russian companies increased to 13 from eight a year earlier.
4. Russia turns the state messenger Max into a powerful tool for digital control.
– Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that the Russian version of Max can take screenshots of the screen and the content of mini-apps without the user’s knowledge, access their messages and payments, and impersonate the user. The app is also capable of injecting code into mini-apps, which potentially allows it to be used for cyberattacks.
– Over the past 18 months, tens of millions of Russians have been forced to install Max. Government agencies, schools, and universities are transitioning to it for official and educational communication. In some cases, access to educational buildings and dormitories is linked to QR codes generated by the application.
– Meanwhile, Max has not yet managed to replace Telegram as the main platform for news and communication.
– Researchers call the rapid spread of state-controlled digital infrastructure in Russia an example of the acceleration of digital authoritarianism.
5. China criticized the new US law to strengthen sanctions against Russia.
– Beijing criticized the US law signed by Donald Trump, which strengthens sanctions against Russia and introduces new trade restrictions for countries buying Russian energy resources. The Ministry of Commerce of the PRC stated that China consistently opposes unilateral and so-called secondary sanctions unless they are based on UN decisions or international law.
– The new measures could affect China, India, Turkey, and some EU countries. Beijing stated that it will monitor further actions by Washington and reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect the sovereignty and legitimate interests of Chinese companies.
– China’s statement came on the eve of a meeting between Trump and PRC leader Xi Jinping in Washington.
6. London insurers expanded the zone of increased military risk to the entire Black Sea basin due to the increase in attacks on commercial vessels.
– The Joint War Committee (JWC) at Lloyd’s previously included only the coastal waters of Russia and Ukraine in the risk list. Now the requirements for voyage notifications extend to the entire Black Sea, except for the territorial waters of neighboring countries.
– Insurance premiums for military risks have sharply increased, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost of each seven-day voyage.
– This raises transportation costs for Russian oil, petroleum products, and other raw materials through the Black Sea and complicates the operations of Russian ports and exporters.
