What Kommersant, RBC, Vedomosti, Interfax and Forbes Russia report — selected and summarized in English every morning, for readers who don't read Russian. Analysis-grade sourcing, no wire rehash. Data context in the Russia Terminal. Also: Central Asia Digest · Caucasus wire.
Moscow added European assets to state-appointed management, weighed a new fuel export curb and published a widening current account surplus on 15–16 October, while President Putin signalled openness to a new investment tax incentive.
A presidential decree of 15 October put five Russian subsidiaries of European groups into the external management of Centre Capital, a management company. They are Kappa Rus, Tarkett, Ontex Rus, Eivosis Packaging Kuban and Menshen Packaging CIS, together with annual revenue above 50 billion rubles (about $600 million). Interfax, citing SPARK data, reports 2025 revenue of 16.5 billion rubles for Kappa Rus and 19.3 billion for Tarkett. The decree does not identify the managing company beyond its name. For foreign investors the decree shows that packaging and consumer goods subsidiaries are now in scope, not only energy and finance.
Source: Interfax, 15 Oct 2026
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Energy Ministry is studying a ban on LPG exports but has not decided. The Federal Antimonopoly Service proposed barring non-producers from exporting until the end of 2026. LPG on the St Petersburg exchange reached 48,105 rubles per tonne (about $575) on 14 October, against the August 2021 record of 53,353 rubles. Non-producers already cannot export diesel until 31 January 2027, and gasoline exports are banned for all market participants until the same date. Buyers in Turkey, China and Central Asia, which took 3.86 million tonnes in 2025, face further supply risk.
Source: Interfax, 15 Oct 2026
Russia's current account surplus reached $35.0 billion in January–August 2026, against $21.0 billion a year earlier, according to the Bank of Russia. The central bank attributes the rise mainly to higher export values. The goods trade surplus grew 25.0% to $91.6 billion. The services deficit widened 7.3% to $33.7 billion, driven by Russians' foreign travel spending and higher non-resident transport costs. The August surplus was $3.3 billion. The central bank links the rise to higher prices on world commodity markets.
Source: Interfax, 15 Oct 2026
At the Business Russia forum on 15 October, Putin said he would instruct the government to examine a deferred investment tax deduction. Business Russia chairman Alexei Repik asked for it, saying 60% of investment is financed from companies' own funds. The tool would cut profit tax for companies that reinvest profits in new production. Putin said the design must protect the budget while clearly supporting business. Business Russia expects companies could use it no earlier than 2031–2032. No rates or timing have been set.
Source: Kommersant, 15 Oct 2026
The US Treasury's OFAC extended to 24 April 2027 its licences for transactions with Lukoil International's filling stations abroad and its Bulgarian assets. The licence permitting talks on selling Lukoil International remains valid only until 22 October and has been renewed monthly. Lukoil was added to the US sanctions list on 22 October 2025. A sale to Gunvor was blocked by the US Treasury, according to Interfax. The extension keeps the roughly 2,500 foreign stations operating while the sale of the assets remains unresolved.
Source: Interfax, 15 Oct 2026
The day's most important Russian economic stories. Free, in your inbox three times a week.
Mon, Wed, Fri. Double opt-in, no tracking, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you consent to the processing of your email address as described in our Privacy Policy.