Russia Turns to India for Record Fuel Imports Amid Refinery Strikes
Public Lokpal
September 13, 2026
Russia Turns to India for Record Fuel Imports Amid Refinery Strikes
Russia imported a historic 172,000 tonnes of refined oil products in August, driven by relentless Ukrainian drone strikes that crippled domestic refining infrastructure and forced the traditionally self-sufficient nation to secure emergency supplies.
India emerged as the primary savior, supplying roughly 70% of these imports—totaling 120,000 tonnes of gasoline valued at 78 million euros.
Notably, all Indian-sourced fuel originated from the Vadinar refinery operated by Nayara Energy, a firm nearly half-owned by Russia's Rosneft.
The refinery processed Russian crude, turning it into finished gasoline before shipping it back home.
To bypass international restrictions, the fuel underwent ship-to-ship transfers using sanctioned tankers off Egypt's coast before final delivery to Russia's Arctic port of Beloe More.
Alongside smaller shipments from Egypt and South Korea, this unusual trade flow underscores the severe pressure on Moscow's domestic energy network and the complex, circular supply chains emerging under heavy sanctions.