The Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources on Oct. 13 demanded the revocation of several production licenses belonging to Russian private oil company LUKoil in two Western Siberian regions. Numerous reported or supposed violations of environmental regulations in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area and the Komi Republic have jeopardized 20 license agreements. This move against LUKoil indicates the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources has expanded its campaign against foreign energy companies to include a private domestic producer. Unlike Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, LUKoil is not under state control, but it is nevertheless friendly to the Kremlin — a requirement for any large company that wants to operate in Russia. The Russian government has always had pressure mechanisms for private companies, but this threat against LUKoil is out of the ordinary.