Russia imports gasoline from India amid Ukrainian strikes on refineries, Bloomberg reports

What happened

Bloomberg, citing energy intelligence firm Kpler, reports that Russia received gasoline shipments from India for the first time last week amid fuel shortages exacerbated by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. The gasoline was sourced from Nayara Energy Ltd., an Indian oil refining company backed by Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft, and transported via Russian-linked tankers with a transfer point in Egypt.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. This development follows Moscow's April ban on gasoline and diesel exports to prioritize domestic supply as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to target oil infrastructure thousands of kilometers from the frontline. Analysts estimate Russia's crude-processing rates have dropped to roughly one-third below seasonal norms, underscoring the pressure on Russian fuel production.

Sumit Ritolia, lead analyst at Kpler, told Bloomberg that imports from distant partners such as India reveal the severity of Russia's current gasoline imbalance. Additional shipments appear to be en route, with two tankers leaving India’s Vadinar port in early July and transferring cargo at Egypt’s Damietta port before heading to Russia.

Known from the source

• Russia imported gasoline from India for the first time last week, according to Bloomberg citing Kpler data.
• The gasoline was sourced from Nayara Energy Ltd., an Indian oil refining company backed by Rosneft.
• Fuel shipments were transported on Russian-linked tankers and transferred via Damietta Port in Egypt.
• Russia imposed a ban on gasoline and diesel exports in April to prioritize domestic supply.
• Ukrainian drone attacks continue to affect Russian oil refineries far from the active front lines.

What remains unclear

Despite Western sanctions including EU sanctions on Nayara Energy since July 2025, Bloomberg data shows that Russia continues to receive fuel via so-called shadow fleet tankers—ageing vessels operating outside formal insurance and regulatory oversight—to sustain its gasoline supplies. This logistical workaround is part of broader efforts by Moscow to manage war-related supply disruptions and economic pressure.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Confirm the exact dates and details of the tanker shipments from India to Russia. Verify the current operational status and sanction implications for Nayara Energy Ltd. Clarify any official Russian or Ukrainian government statements on refinery attacks and fuel imports.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.