Bailiffs have told Russian oil firm YUKOS' four production units, which together pump 1.7 million barrels a day of oil, to stop selling oil, a company source said.
The source confirmed a report by Interfax news agency saying that the justice ministry had told YUKOS' units to halt sales of property - including oil.
The decision is likely to hasten the collapse of the company, which has failed to pay a $3.4 billion tax debt for 2000.