According to Reuters, Russia has turned to India for gasoline imports to ease the fuel shortage triggered by continued attacks on its energy infrastructure. Two industry officials familiar with the matter told the news agency that India has dispatched 60,000 metric tons of gasoline to Russia.
The officials further stated that two tankers carrying fuel parcels of between 30,000 and 40,000 metric tons each have been sent. The shipments form part of Moscow's broader strategy to address mounting shortages that are affecting fuel availability across the country's 11 time zones.
The fuel crisis has resulted in rationing and long queues at petrol stations as gasoline prices have climbed to record levels. The shortage has become so severe that Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly acknowledged the situation. Addressing the issue, Putin said that "problems persist for both motorists and businesses," adding that "there are still queues at petrol stations, and finding the right grade of petrol is not always easy."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also referred to the shortages in a statement posted on Telegram. He said, "Putin can go on and on, claiming on TV that he supposedly has everything under control." Zelensky further stated that Russians can now see that the war "has reached the point where even an oil state — a gas station, as Russia used to be called — is now facing gas shortages."
Industry sources quoted by Reuters said the Kremlin plans to import approximately 400,000 metric tons of gasoline every month from multiple countries, including Belarus, which has already begun exporting fuel to Russia. The move reflects Moscow's increasing dependence on external fuel supplies as domestic production continues to face disruptions.
India and Russia have maintained a long-standing trade relationship in crude oil, petroleum, and energy products. However, this trade came under international scrutiny after United States President Donald Trump announced an additional 25 percent tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil, accusing New Delhi of "fueling Putin's war in Ukraine."
Despite those measures, India was later permitted to resume oil trade with Russia following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
According to data from LSEG and Kpler, India's crude oil imports from Russia surged to a record high in June, rising from the 36.5 percent level recorded in May 2026. As the conflict continues to disrupt Russia's energy infrastructure, Moscow's decision to source gasoline from India highlights the growing economic consequences of the prolonged war and the increasing pressure on Russia's domestic fuel supply system.
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