Repeated Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil refineries have disrupted domestic fuel production, prompting Moscow to approach Indian refiners for gasoline supplies
Ukraine’s sustained campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure has forced Moscow into an unexpected position—seeking refined fuel supplies from India after drone and missile strikes severely damaged several of its oil refineries.
According to a Reuters report, leading Russian energy companies, including Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Lukoil, have approached Indian refiners for additional gasoline supplies as fuel shortages worsen across Russia. The requests come after Ukrainian attacks knocked out a significant portion of Russia’s refining capacity, leaving nearly 40% of the country’s refining infrastructure offline for at least two months.
The development marks a striking shift in the energy relationship between the two nations. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has emerged as one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude oil. Now, Russia is looking to India for refined petroleum products to bridge a growing domestic supply gap.
However, Indian state-run refiners are understood to have informed Russian counterparts that they currently have little exportable surplus. While India has already supplied some gasoline to Russia through international traders and ship-to-ship transfers, officials have maintained that public sector oil companies are not directly exporting fuel to Russian entities.
The fuel crunch has intensified across several Russian regions, with authorities introducing emergency measures to conserve supplies. Industry experts warn that if Ukrainian strikes continue to cripple refining operations, Moscow could soon be compelled to import diesel as well, adding further pressure on its energy sector.
Ukraine has steadily expanded its long-range campaign targeting Russian oil infrastructure, arguing that disrupting refinery operations weakens Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its military operations. The strikes have not only damaged production facilities but have also triggered fuel shortages and logistical disruptions across parts of Russia.
The latest development underscores how the prolonged conflict is reshaping global energy flows, with India increasingly emerging as a key refining hub even for countries that have traditionally been major energy exporters themselves.
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