The Russian government has partially lifted a grain export ban introduced from August 15 to December 31, and allowed exports under international contracts signed by the Russian Federation and as humanitarian aid, the government said in a regulation dated August 30 and obtained by RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

The regulation permits grain and flour exports to create grain reserves under Custom's Union legislation, and to feed Russian military, diplomatic, consular and other missions abroad, including staff at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Grain can also be exported for rescue operations and as humanitarian aide abroad as well as to feed crews on Russian ships and Russian organizations on the Svalbard archipelago, Norway.

Russia introduced the grain export ban after the worst drought in the last 130 years scorched a quarter of its crops.

MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti)