Russia's refineries damaged by Ukrainian drones as India emerges as a major fuel supplier

【New Delhi, India = Pragya Awasthi】Russia, where repeated Ukrainian drone strikes have crippled many of its own refineries, is facing a shortage of refined fuel. Amid the crunch, India has emerged as a key supplier of gasoline to Russia.
According to local media reports on the 1st, the Indian news agency PTI said, citing ship-tracking data and trade sources, that Indian refiners exported about 1 million barrels of gasoline to Russia over the past two months.
According to energy analytics firm Vortexa, Russia's seaborne gasoline imports surged in August to an average of 125,000 barrels per day, or about 470,000 tons on a monthly basis. As Ukraine relentlessly targeted key energy infrastructure inside Russia, domestic refined fuel output reportedly fell by as much as 70% from previous levels. In response, the Russian government imposed nationwide fuel sales restrictions and stepped up large-scale imports from abroad.
At the center of this gasoline supply to Russia is the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, India. The plant is operated by Nayara Energy, an Indian refiner, and half of its shares are owned by Russian state oil company Rosneft. In effect, an Indian refining hub backed by Russian capital has become a key channel helping Russia ease its fuel shortage.
Beyond India, Türkiye has also appeared on the list of Russia's major gasoline suppliers. The close energy ties between India and Russia are especially evident not only in gasoline trade but also in crude oil transactions. Crude oil accounts for 83% of the Russian fossil fuels that India imports. In May alone, India's imports of Russian crude oil reached 4.8 billion euros, or about 763.87 billion won.
Although Western countries are intensifying economic sanctions on Russia, energy trade between India and Russia appears to be growing even stronger. India buys large volumes of cheap Russian crude, refines it, and then exports the fuel back to Russia, which is struggling with shortages. Analysts say the two countries are taking advantage of sanctions loopholes for mutual gain while further solidifying their unusual "energy symbiosis."

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