Russia’s Fuel Imports From India Hit Record As Drone Strikes Disrupt Refineries

Russia imported 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August, the highest monthly figure recorded, according to an Economic Times news report citing the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).  

The volume was more than seven times the previous monthly record and three times the total imported during 2025. India supplied 70% of these imports, including 120,000 tonnes of gasoline worth 78 million euros.  

Gasoline made up 74% of Russia’s oil-product imports in August, compared with an average of 6% between 2023 and 2025. 

Gasoline from Vadinar 

All the gasoline from India was loaded at the Vadinar refinery and sold by EU-sanctioned Nayara Energy to Rosneft. Rosneft owns 49.13% of Nayara Energy. 

Vadinar sourced all its crude from Russia during the first eight months of 2026. This compares with 81% of its crude supplies coming from Russia during 2025. 

Shipments via Egypt 

The gasoline cargoes were transferred from one vessel to another off the coast of Egypt before being unloaded at Russia’s Arctic port of Beloe More. 

According to CREA, all the vessels involved were sanctioned tankers. Four of the six vessels had previously operated under false flags. 

Russian Exports Fall 

Russia’s higher fuel imports came as its oil-product exports declined. Seaborne oil-product exports fell 21% by volume in August, while revenues from products unloaded at destination ports fell 32% from July to 78 million euros a day. 

Oil-product loadings at Russian ports have fallen for three consecutive months and were less than half their August 2025 level. 

Tuapse Sees No Shipments 

Tuapse, which was Russia’s fourth-largest oil-product export port before the full-scale invasion, did not load any oil-product cargo for the third consecutive month. The port has faced Ukrainian drone attacks since May. 

Crude exports were also affected at Novorossiysk. Crude loadings there fell 58% from July, while operations stopped for nine consecutive days in August. 

India Remains a Major Buyer 

India was Russia’s second-largest fossil-fuel customer in August after China, importing 4.8 billion euros of Russian hydrocarbons. Crude oil accounted for 4.1 billion euros, or 87%, of those purchases. 

Overall, Russia’s fossil-fuel export revenues fell 8% to 604 million euros a day in August, while volumes declined 7%. Urals crude averaged $69.90 a barrel, up 23% from July. 

Read More: BRICS Business Forum 2026: Piyush Goyal Seeks Open Markets, Fewer Trade Barriers and Payment System Links! 

Conclusion 

Russia’s fuel imports increased as attacks disrupted domestic refining and oil-product exports fell. India supplied most of the imported fuel, including gasoline made from Russian crude. 

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