Crippled by Ukrainian Drones, Russia Turns to India for Fuel Relief

Crippled by relentless Ukrainian drone strikes on critical infrastructure, Russia is now relying on seaborne petrol imports from India to mitigate a historic domestic fuel shortage.

A major shipment of 42,000 tonnes of petrol is scheduled to arrive at the Beloye More oil terminal in northern Russia this Sunday.

The cargo originated from the Vadinar refinery in India, underscoring Moscow’s urgent need for foreign refined products.

Analytics firm Kpler tracked the complex logistical route.

The fuel was initially loaded onto the vessel Agni on June 18 before being transferred to a tanker named Garnet off the Egyptian coast on July 6.

The Garnet was recently observed sailing north past Norway.

Refining Capacity Severed

Ukrainian drone operations have knocked out an estimated 40 percent of Russia’s domestic oil refining capacity.

The resulting deficit marks the most severe fuel shortage the country has experienced since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Vadinar refinery processing the emergency shipment is owned by Nayara Energy, a firm in which Russian state entity Rosneft holds a 49 percent stake.

The facility has sourced more than 90 percent of its crude oil from Russia in 2026.

Despite the tracking data, Nayara denied involvement.

The company stated it "has neither sold nor has any plans to sell fuel to Russian companies" and maintained it "remains committed to serving the Indian market and meeting the demand for fuels across the length and breadth of India."

Rationing and Stopgap Measures

The domestic shortages have disrupted the lives of an estimated 50 million Russian citizens. Authorities implemented strict rationing protocols across multiple regions in July as extreme queues formed at petrol stations.

Russian Vice-Premier Alexander Novak acknowledged the influx of foreign oil products earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the widespread shortages, claiming the "difficulties" were "temporary" and would not alter the "overall economic dynamics."

Beyond India, Moscow is leaning heavily on Belarus to cover the shortfall. Minsk sold 184,000 tonnes of petrol to Russia in June, representing a 184-fold increase compared to the previous year.

Fragmented Recovery

Government interventions, including the degradation of domestic fuel quality standards and altered logistical networks, have stabilized supplies in major hubs like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Janis Kluge of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs noted that high prices have also suppressed consumer demand.

However, the crisis remains acute in provincial areas. Fuel stations in Astrakhan, Lipetsk, and Voronezh continue to see queues exceeding 100 vehicles.

In Ulyanovsk, fuel availability has deteriorated further.

Supply shortages in the city have worsened as authorities prioritize fuel shipments to higher-profile regions at the expense of local access.