For the first time, Russia is importing gasoline by sea from India due to shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes.

Fuel Crisis Deepens in Russia

According to UATV: Russia’s fuel crisis is escalating as Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure take a heavy toll. In response, Moscow has begun importing gasoline from India and imposed limits on fuel sales at gas stations. The strikes by Ukrainian defense forces have caused severe damage to numerous oil refineries, including a recent hit on the facility in Ufa.

As a result, drivers in Russia now face waits of up to four hours and are limited to purchasing no more than 20 liters of gasoline. The Moscow refinery has been taken offline for at least six months, further straining supply. In June alone, Ukrainian forces targeted 11 refineries and 7 fuel logistics sites, with the farthest strike reaching over 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.

How Russia Is Responding

To address the growing shortfall, gasoline shipments from Belarus to Russia nearly tripled in June, while the price of Belarusian fuel in Russia jumped 6%, reaching 127,000 rubles per ton. Moscow also received 50,000 tons of fuel from Kazakhstan as humanitarian aid. Additionally, Russia has initiated maritime imports of gasoline from India, securing at least 70,000 metric tons.

The diesel shortage has caused major disruptions for many construction companies across Russia. Accumulated losses in transport construction organizations have exceeded 280 billion rubles. Experts note that

“contractors are facing payment delays and are forced to take out working capital loans under high key interest rates,”

The fuel supply situation in Russia underscores the complexity of the country’s current economic challenges, driven by both external factors—such as military actions—and internal issues like rising costs and financial difficulties in key industries. Unpredictable supply chains and increasing fuel prices could have serious consequences for Russia’s economy, particularly the construction sector, which in turn may affect overall economic growth. These developments also highlight the critical importance of energy independence for a state facing instability.