Russia is facing a severe domestic fuel crisis following repeated Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on its oil refineries and storage facilities. To offset internal shortages and stabilize domestic petrol supplies, Moscow—traditionally one of the world’s leading crude oil exporters—has begun importing refined gasoline from India by sea. According to reports by British daily The Guardian and news agency Reuters, a fuel shipment originating from India was recently discharged at a Russian port. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the ongoing process of importing refined petroleum products to stabilize the domestic market.
Despite being a dominant global supplier of crude oil, Russia’s impaired domestic refining capacity has forced it to import finished petroleum products. While India has been a major buyer of discounted Russian crude amid Western sanctions, this new geopolitical shift sees Moscow sourcing refined fuel back from Indian refineries. Industry data indicates that additional gasoline tankers dispatched from India are scheduled to reach Russian ports in the coming weeks.
