Ukraine drone strikes force Russia to import petrol from India

Months of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have compelled Moscow to begin importing petrol from India, according to Reuters. The attacks, which have targeted energy infrastructure since March, are increasingly disrupting Russia's domestic fuel supplies, leading to shortages, rationing, and price rises.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions with some countries over fuel imports were underway, describing the move as a step to stabilise the market and reduce panic-buying. However, Russia's energy ministry and India's oil ministry have not commented on the development.

According to industry sources cited by Reuters, at least 60,000 metric tonnes of petrol have been dispatched from India to Russia, with two tankers carrying 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes each. Russia plans to import a total of 400,000 tonnes of petrol monthly from multiple countries, including neighbouring Belarus, which has already tripled rail supplies.

Petrol consumption in Russia reaches at least 110,000 tonnes per day in summer. The attacks have reduced petrol production by about 17% to 850,000 barrels per day, compared to 1.03 million in 2025. Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining military logistics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that problems persist for motorists and businesses, with queues at petrol stations and difficulty finding the right grade of fuel. He insisted the shortages were not critical and temporary. Prime Minister Alexander Novak assured that the domestic fuel market remains well-supplied, attributing shortages at some stations to supply chain disruptions.