A heatwave sweeping Russia means that all Russian Premier League matches in August will be moved to evening kick-offs, the league said.
The move throws television broadcasting arrangements into uncertainty, although the league said the decision may be reversed if the weather cools.
"Until the month of September, matches will start start no earlier than 17.00, dependent on weather conditions," the league said in a statement e-mailed to R-Sport.
"The question of broadcasting the matches in each round on the generally accessible NTV channel is being discussed with the management of the TV company."
Since the Premier League resumed earlier this month, players have struggled with the heat, especially at games played in the Caucasus, where daytime temperatures can reach 40 degrees in the daytime.
The league has struggled with summer heat before, notably when Russian international Pyotr Bystrov was hospitalised with heatstroke after collapsing during a game in June 2009.
