[108302] Russia has begun importing gasoline from India following fuel shortages due to Ukrainian attacks
[108302] Russia has begun importing gasoline from India following fuel shortages due to Ukrainian attacks
Against the backdrop of drone attacks on energy infrastructure, Russia has turned to importing gasoline from India in an effort to curb the internal crisis in the country.
Russia requires fuel imports amidst an energy crisis
According to reports by the news agency Reuters and numerous media outlets, including Times of Ukraine and STERNENKO, Russia has begun maritime imports of gasoline from India. The move is intended to soften the acute fuel shortage in the domestic market, caused by a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries and energy infrastructure.
According to the information, over 60,000 tons of gasoline have already been shipped to Russia, with sources cited in Reuters estimating that the Kremlin plans to import up to 400,000 tons of fuel per month from various countries, including Belarus. Experts and reports in Оперативний ЗСУ point out that this is a necessary step given the fact that daily gasoline consumption in Russia during the summer season is at least 110,000 tons.
The reports highlight the irony of the situation, as Russia continues to export crude oil to India, where it is refined into gasoline which is then sold back to Russia. On the 24 Канал channel, it was noted that while Russian authorities are asking citizens to "show restraint," in practice there are long lines and friction at gas stations throughout the country.
Ukrainian media outlets covering the events, including ҐРУНТ and Політика.ua, see this step as proof of the effectiveness of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions." Conversely, channels identified with economic analysis such as Бізнес Цензор point out that India has significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil to bypass global supply disruptions, which creates a complex mutual economic dependence in the energy sector.