Putin: Russia's petrol reserves stand at 1.7 million tonnes

Russia's petrol reserves currently stand at 1.7 million tonnes, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, according to TASS.

"According to the information provided by the Ministry of Energy, current petrol reserves amount to 1.7 million tonnes, which is virtually in line with the level recorded during the same period last year. There has been a slight decrease of just 4 per cent," Putin said.

The Russian leader noted that the country has begun drawing on its fuel reserves, but stressed that petrol stockpiles remain at roughly the same level as a year ago.

Putin also said that previously accumulated fuel supplies have been released onto Russia's domestic market.