Russia imports fuel and rations gasoline at pumps after refinery strikes

Purchase caps and domestic rationing

Russian fuel retailers have reimposed purchase limits on retail gasoline and diesel sales across Moscow and regional distribution networks. Fuel shortages first gathered pace in May and spread across most Russian regions by July, though filling stations in Moscow briefly eased an initial wave of restrictions during June. State-owned Rosneft capped gasoline purchases at 30 litres per vehicle across all stations nationwide, warning motorists of longer waiting times due to elevated demand. Gazprom Neft restricted fuel purchases at automated stations in Moscow to 40 litres per customer, while capping gasoline sales at 60 litres at manned stations. Tatneft established limits of 50 litres for gasoline and 60 litres for diesel per vehicle, while Lukoil imposed regional limits in Moscow without publicizing its precise caps.

Government confirmation of foreign imports

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on state television that Russia has begun importing refined petroleum products to stabilize the domestic energy market. The measure marks a reversal for a traditional net fuel exporter after repeated Ukrainian drone strikes disabled roughly one-third of the country's oil refining capacity. Novak noted that authorities expect several domestic refineries to resume output soon after completing repair and maintenance cycles. The cabinet also modified environmental regulations to permit domestic output of lower-grade vehicle fuels.

Imports have already begun, and the necessary regulations have been adopted to allow additional production of fuels of lower standards, namely Euro 2, Euro 3 and Euro 4.

Supply routes from India and regional partners

Shipping tracking records and trade sources confirmed that Russia received a seaborne gasoline cargo from India in early August. An Oman-flagged tanker unloaded approximately 68,000 tonnes of gasoline at the Arctic port of Vitino following a ship-to-ship transfer near Port Said from the tanker Agni, which originated at India's Vadinar terminal. Industry data indicates that at least two additional gasoline shipments from India are scheduled to reach Russian ports within two weeks. To secure regional supplies, Moscow arranged rail imports from Kazakhstan and Belarus, while also securing diesel shipments from Asia. These emergency imports operate alongside a total ban on gasoline exports through the end of the year and a diesel export ban enacted in early July.

Kremlin response and industrial repair plans

Ukrainian military operations have carried out over 70 strikes against Russian refineries and energy infrastructure. The strikes accelerated following an intensified deep-strike campaign announced on 25 June, which also struck at least 20 logistics warehouses operated by the online retailer Wildberries. Speaking at the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the attacks inflict tangible damage on industrial assets, though he stated that overall economic growth remains near 1%.

Clearly, the pace of economic activity is influenced by a number of factors, including external pressures and terrorist attacks against industrial facilities and infrastructure.

Putin instructed ministers to draft a dedicated rebuilding program to reconstruct damaged storage depots and processing facilities with updated technology. Novak had previously warned that fuel supplies had reached critical levels in specific regions, pointing explicitly to Siberia before the latest federal import measures took effect.