Russia turns to Asia for refined fuel, set to receive nearly 270,000 tonnes in Aug

Russia is importing nearly 270,000 metric tonnes of refined fuel from Asia this month, using ship-to-ship transfers to bring in supplies as repeated Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries reduce domestic fuel production, according to preliminary shipping data and trade sources cited by Reuters.The imports mark a sharp shift for Russia, which is normally a major net exporter of refined petroleum products. Persistent Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months have disrupted refinery operations and contributed to fuel shortages across the country.About one-third of the nearly 270,000 tonnes of refined fuel headed to Russia in August originated from India, while the remainder was loaded off the coasts of countries including South Korea and Malaysia, according to the shipping data and sources.India accounts for a third of Russia's August fuel importsThe shipments are being arranged through ship-to-ship transfers, a method that can make it harder to trace the original…