Game over? Russia to import gasoline by sea as shortage looms

Russia is set to import fuel by sea this month as it seeks to manage a gasoline shortage following extensive drone attacks on ‌its refineries, four industry sources said.

In a rare move for one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and refined products, Russia is expected to receive a cargo of gasoline via one of its western ports in June, the sources said.

It will be shipped from Asia, one source said, without providing details on volumes or suppliers.

Russia considered importing ⁠fuel by sea last year, another source said, but ultimately domestic supply was sufficient.

But supplies this year have been constrained by months of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, pipelines and fuel storage facilities as it has sought to curb Moscow’s ability to finance its war effort.

The most recent attacks include on the TANECO refinery and the Moscow refinery, which led to the suspension of processing at both plants.

Today, Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow’s largest oil refinery.
To understand the scale of the strike, a few key facts about Moscow Oil Refinery:
– Located just 15 kilometers from the Kremlin.
– Supplies up to 40% of Moscow’s gasoline and about 50% of its diesel fuel.
-… pic.twitter.com/V06GmsZrSb
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) June 16, 2026

Ban on exports ahead of peak driving season

Fuel shortages in Russia have been reported by the media in around a dozen regions, according to data compiled by Reuters. Russian-held ‌Crimea ⁠and two regions in Siberia have officially confirmed the shortages.

Fuel shortage in Russia affects more than 50 regions – The Bell.
According to the report, the fuel crisis has now spread to 53 Russian regions as well as the occupied territories of Ukraine. In 18 regions, fuel sales are capped at a maximum of 50 liters per transaction. The… pic.twitter.com/Un5qwBqesb
— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) June 17, 2026

The government announced a ban on gasoline exports for producers of the fuel until the end of July, helping to maximise supplies needed over the summer months when driving demand is high.

Moscow has also imported fuel from neighbouring Belarus to address shortages and has ⁠in the past sought small volumes from Kazakhstan. However, neither country has sufficient spare capacity to support Russia in the event of a deeper supply crisis, the sources added.

Cope in Russian media:
🤯 Multi-kilometer traffic jams have formed at a gas station on the "Moscow – St. Petersburg" highway.
Sometimes, the wait can last up to three hours. pic.twitter.com/mZSZTuMksA
— Beefeater (@Beefeater_Fella) June 17, 2026

One of them said seaborne imports could ⁠also be only a temporary measure and were unlikely to provide significant volumes because of logistical issues and high prices.

The sources asked not to be named because they were not authorised ⁠to speak publicly on the issue.

Russia’s Energy Ministry did not reply to a Reuters request for comment.

According to industry sources, the country exported nearly 5 million metric tons of gasoline last year, or about 117,000 barrels per day.

With Reuters

Caption: Tatneft, one of Russia’s largest oil companies and fuel retailers, has introduced fuel rationing across its gas station network. Operating more than 900 filling stations across Russia, Tatneft is one of the country’s largest fuel retail chains. [@bayraktar_1love on X]