Russia Imports Gasoline From Turkey and India Amid Ukrainian Refinery Strikes
Facing persistent fuel shortages driven by Ukrainian drone strikes on domestic refineries, Russia is importing gasoline from Turkey and India while exporting its own crude abroad for refining, according to reports from The Insider, Caspian Post, and the National Security Journal.
Shadow Tankers and Seaborne Shipments
Despite standing as the world’s second-largest crude oil exporter and third-largest exporter of refined petroleum products, Moscow has turned to seaborne shipments from Turkey, with deliveries handled by shadow fleet tankers, as reported by The Insider and Türkiye Today.
Shrinking Reserves and State Acknowledgment
Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged the fuel squeeze over the weekend, stating that national gasoline reserves have dropped to 1.7 million metric tons—roughly 4 percent lower than the previous year.
Ukrainian drone campaigns targeting energy infrastructure have knocked out a substantial portion of Russia’s oil refining capacity across central regions. According to the Ukrainian General Staff cited by the National Security Journal, strikes have disabled roughly 42.74 percent of Russia’s oil refining capacity, though Western analysts place that figure closer to 33 percent.
Rationing and Long Lines at Filling Stations
The resulting supply constraints have prompted fuel rationing in multiple Russian regions and occupied Crimea, forcing motorists in areas like Moscow to endure extensive lines at filling stations.
To combat the crisis, Russian lawmakers approved tax changes establishing subsidies to finance foreign gasoline purchases, while Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak described imports as one of the government’s key tools for stabilizing the domestic market.
Sweeping Bans and Export Restrictions
Simultaneously, Moscow has enacted broad bans on gasoline and diesel exports through July 31, alongside an aviation fuel export ban extending to November 30.