Russia has oil, so why is it importing petrol from India
Russia is experiencing domestic petrol shortages and rationing despite being a major global oil producer. The crisis is driven by Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, seasonal demand, and maintenance issues, rather than a lack of crude oil.
Why it matters
It illustrates the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in wartime and how refining capacity, not just raw resource extraction, dictates fuel availability.
Russia, one of the world’s biggest oil producers, is now rationing petrol at home as Ukrainian drone strikes hit its oil refineries and disrupt fuel supplies.Reuters reported that petrol stations in Moscow have reintroduced limits on fuel sales as shortages return. Gazprom Neft has capped petrol purchases at 40 litres at automated stations and 60 litres at other stations, while Rosneft has limited sales to 30 litres per vehicle across Russia. Tatneft has also set a 50-litre limit.Long queues have also returned at petrol stations in Moscow and the surrounding region. The restrictions come after an earlier wave of shortages eased for a short period in July. But fresh Ukrainian attacks on refineries, along with strong seasonal demand and refinery maintenance, have again tightened supplies.Russia has oil, but it is short on petrolThe scale of the problem becomes clearer when Russia’s oil industry is taken into account.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in