Russian regions have been battling a fuel shortage since June 23, with bus services cut, fares raised and rubbish collection halted in places, as a diesel deficit spreads across almost all regions.

The heatwave that seared much of Europe in late June is officially the most severe ever recorded in the region, according to a rapid-attribution study published on June 26.

The appeal of geothermal power is strong in a region where the 2022 gas crisis exposed the strategic vulnerability created by dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The Iran war has switched up government’s priorities and energy investments are now driven less by climate targets than by security concerns, as governments respond to the second major energy crisis in five years.