Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Russia Imports Record Fuel From India After Refinery Strikes
Russia usually makes a lot of gasoline and other fuels itself.
In August 2026, attacks on Russian refineries made it harder for the country to produce enough fuel.
Russia therefore imported a record amount of oil products from other countries.
India supplied most of this fuel, including gasoline made from Russian crude at the Vadinar refinery.
The refinery is partly owned by Rosneft through Nayara Energy.
The gasoline was shipped back to Russia after being transferred between ships near Egypt.
At the same time, Russia exported much less of its own oil products.
China remained Russia’s biggest fossil-fuel customer, while India was the second biggest.
Russia imported a record 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August 2026, more than seven times its previous monthly record.
India supplied about 70% of those imports, including 120,000 tonnes of gasoline worth approximately €78 million.
The gasoline was refined from Russian crude at India’s Vadinar refinery and sold by Nayara Energy to Rosneft, which owns 49.13% of Nayara.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air attributed the surge to Ukrainian drone strikes that disrupted Russian refineries and contributed to fuel shortages.
Russia’s oil-product exports fell 21% by volume, while overall fossil-fuel export revenue declined 8% to about €604 million per day.
- Who
- Russia imported fuel mainly from India, with additional supplies from South Korea and Egypt; the figures were reported by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
- What
- Russia imported 172,000 tonnes of oil products, including 120,000 tonnes of gasoline refined from Russian crude in India.
- When
- August 2026; the reports were published on September 13, 2026.
- Where
- The gasoline was produced at the Vadinar refinery in India, transferred between vessels off Egypt, and unloaded at Russia’s Arctic port of Beloe More.
- Why
- According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted Russian refining capacity and contributed to domestic fuel shortages.
- Russian oil-product imports
- 172,000 tonnes in August 2026, valued at approximately €114 million
- India’s share
- About 70% of Russia’s oil-product imports
- Indian gasoline shipments
- 120,000 tonnes worth approximately €78 million
- Nayara Energy ownership
- Rosneft owns 49.13% of Nayara Energy
- Other suppliers
- South Korea supplied about 18,000 tonnes and Egypt supplied about 25,000 tonnes of oil products
- Russian oil-product exports
- Down 21% by volume in August; daily destination-port revenue fell 32% to €78 million
- Overall fossil-fuel revenue
- Down 8% to approximately €604 million per day
- Urals crude price
- Rose 23% to $69.90 per barrel, above the $44.10 G7 and EU price cap
