The article analyzes the ability of five Russian biggest oil companies to adapt to the rapid changes that currently take place in the global energy sector. The authors assess Gazprom neft, LUKOIL, Rosneft, Surgutneftegas and Tatneft by the following criteria: degree of globalization, volumes of oil production on the continental shelf, corporate social responsibility, development of shale oil reserves, perception of climate change problems, as well as response to oil price volatility and anti-Russian sanctions. A conclusion is made that Russian oil companies that, in addition to the global changes, had to cope over the past 30 years with the upheavals connected with Russia's transition to the market economy, can adapt quite well to the new realities of the global energy sector and weather successfully such external shocks as oil price collapses and introduction of sanctions. At the same time, they are not insured against changes in the world demand for oil that can be caused by the climate policy.