Russia Imports Gasoline From India Amid Ukrainian Refinery Attacks

Russia has begun importing gasoline from India as ongoing Ukrainian military strikes disrupt domestic refineries and trigger severe fuel shortages, according to Kpler data and reporting by Reuters and The Straits Times.

The cross-border fuel movement marks an unusual reversal in energy trade between the two countries, given that India remains the primary buyer of Russian seaborne crude oil. According to data cited by Reuters and The Straits Times, top Russian energy companies—including Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, and Lukoil—approached Indian refiners to secure supplies as roughly 3.6 million barrels per day of crude-processing capacity faced reduced operations.

Refinery Disruptions and Domestic Shortages

Intensified Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have targeted processing facilities across Russia, knocking out multiple units over recent weeks. According to EA Analytics estimates cited by The Straits Times, Russian crude-processing rates slumped to 3.6 million barrels per day in July, sitting about one-third below the seasonal norm.

The resulting crunch forced Moscow to ban both petrol and diesel exports earlier to prioritize local users. Despite those bans, local imbalances persisted, compelling state and private entities to source motor fuel from international markets, including Belarus and neighboring regions, alongside the newly established Indian supply chains.

Complex Shipping Routes and Sanctions Evasion

The inaugural shipment of Indian gasoline departed from the port of Vadinar on June 18, 2026, carried by the Russian-flagged products tanker Cyclone, according to Bloomberg ship-tracking data cited by The Straits Times. The fuel originated from Nayara Energy, a processor on India’s west coast backed by Russian oil producer Rosneft.

Because European Union sanctions implemented in July 2025 target entities involved in Russian trade, the cargo relied on complex ship-to-ship transfers. The fuel was transferred off the coast of Egypt at Damietta Port to the Oman-flagged vessel Garnet on July 6, 2026, before completing its journey to Russia in early August 2026.

According to Kpler analyst Sumit Ritolia, cited by The Straits Times, the emergence of Indian barrels highlights the severity of the domestic petrol imbalance and demonstrates how lower refinery runs are reshaping traditional trade flows. Additional shipments have followed similar logistics chains involving tankers such as the Varg and the Photon, utilizing Mediterranean transfer hubs to route fuel past international restrictions.

Official Responses and Market Capacity

Indian refiners have stated that surplus export volumes remain limited. Major state-run processors—including Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Hindustan Petroleum Corp—have no excess fuel to spare for Russian buyers, according to sources speaking to Reuters.

Nayara Energy issued a statement to Reuters clarifying its operational focus: Nayara Energy remains committed to serving the Indian market and meeting the demand for fuels across the length and breadth of India. The company added that as the country’s largest private sector fuel retailer, our only priority is to ensure optimum supplies to over 7,000 stations and other channels including bulk customers.

Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated earlier in July 2026 that Indian companies were not directly selling fuel to Russia, though he acknowledged that Russian entities might be acquiring Indian-origin products through third-party traders. Representatives for Russia’s Energy Ministry, India’s Oil Ministry, and Nayara’s communications team did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters and Bloomberg.