Russia Turns To India For Gasoline Supplies After Ukraine Strikes Hit Refineries
Russia Turns To India For Gasoline Supplies After Ukraine Strikes Hit Refineries Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 01:09 IST At least one shipment
Russia Turns To India For Gasoline Supplies After Ukraine Strikes Hit Refineries Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 01:09 IST At least one shipment of Indian gasoline has already moved towards Russia, with more supplies expected. Smoke rises from the area of the Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft's Moscow oil refinery. (AFP file photo) Russian energy companies have approached Indian refiners for additional gasoline supplies after Ukrainian strikes disrupted a large portion of Russia’s refining capacity, according to sources cited by Reuters. The move marks an unusual shift in the energy relationship between the two countries. India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian seaborne crude oil, but Moscow’s request for fuel supplies from New Delhi highlights the impact of recent attacks on Russia’s domestic fuel production. Russia Faces Fuel Supply Pressure At least one shipment of Indian gasoline has already moved towards Russia, with more supplies expected, sources told Reuters. Around 40% of Russia’s refining capacity may remain offline for at least two months if further attacks do not take place, one source said.
Major Russian oil companies, including Rosneft, Gazprom Neft and Lukoil, have contacted Indian state-run and private refiners about possible gasoline supplies. Any future deals are expected to involve traders who would handle the shipments, sources said. Three Indian state refiners told Reuters that Russian companies had approached them for additional gasoline, but they currently do not have extra volumes available for export. Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri earlier said Indian firms were not directly selling fuel to Russia, though he acknowledged that Russian buyers could obtain Indian-origin fuel through traders. Sources said any additional shipments could be transported through ship-to-ship transfers. Russia may also look for diesel supplies if further strikes damage refining capacity, although current diesel availability remains sufficient. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that gasoline produced by Indian refiner Nayara Energy, which is partly owned by Rosneft, had been sold to Russia through traders. According to shipping data cited by Kpler, a tanker carrying 42,000 metric tonnes of gasoline from Nayara’s Vadinar port transferred the cargo to another vessel near Egypt before heading towards Russia.
Another tanker carrying gasoline from the same port was also expected to transfer its cargo before continuing towards Russia. Nayara Energy denied selling fuel to Russian companies and said its focus remained on meeting demand in the Indian market through its network of fuel stations and other customers. (With inputs from Reuters) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered Will India become a major fuel supplier to Russia long-term? Russia is seeking gasoline supplies from India due to disruptions in its own refining capacity caused by Ukrainian strikes. At least one shipment of Indian gasoline has already been sent to Russia, with more expected. How will these fuel deals impact global energy markets? Russia is importing gasoline from India to address fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries. At least one shipment of Indian gasoline has already moved towards Russia, with more expected. Could this shift affect India's crude oil imports from Russia?
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