Russia is preparing to initiate large-scale gasoline imports from India to stabilize its domestic energy market and bridge a severe fuel deficit triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on its refining infrastructure, The Moscow Times reported on June 24.
The targeted aerial campaign has crippled Russia’s energy sector, knocking out 16 refineries in May and at least six more in June, which effectively reduced national oil processing volumes to a two-decade low. According to industry data cited by Reuters, the resultant 25% drop in manufacturing has left a supply gap equivalent to 20% of domestic consumption.
While Russian economic demand requires 110,000 tons of gasoline daily during the peak summer months, remaining operational refineries produce only 85,000 tons per day, creating a daily deficit of 25,000 tons that existing imports from Belarus are mathematically incapable of balancing, The Moscow Times wrote.
To counter the shortages and cap surging retail prices, a draft amendment to the Russian Tax Code proposes state-funded subsidies for oil firms purchasing fuel from abroad, The Moscow Times noted, citing reports from the Russian state media.
