For more than a decade, the Russian energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom have traveled an easy road: both were relatively strong and stable , the darlings of the Kremlin. This was rooted in Moscow's heavy reliance on energy revenues, which make up half of the government budget. Now, however, obstacles are piling up for Russia's two largest firms. Energy prices seem set to stay low , Russian businesses face sanctions over Ukraine and domestic competition for resources is rising. These changing circumstances are forcing Rosneft and Gazprom to adapt in order to maintain their political positions and their status within the industry. Rosneft's Battlefronts Russia's oil giant, Rosneft, has experienced a year of uncertainty after more than a decade of growth and high revenues.