Russia faces fuel crisis as imports from Asia become necessary
- Ukraine's attacks have significantly disrupted Russia's oil refining capacities, affecting nearly 40% of total operations.
- The Russian government has responded by extending a ban on gasoline exports and seeking imports from Asian nations.
- These developments highlight the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict, causing widespread fuel shortages and escalating political concerns for the Kremlin.
Russia is dealing with significant fuel shortages as Ukrainian attacks have disrupted nearly 40% of its oil refining capacity. Since the onset of these attacks, reported towards the end of September 2025, the country's ability to refine crude oil has been severely impacted, leading to extensive gas shortages across various regions. As a direct consequence, Russian motorists have experienced chaos at gas stations, with limits imposed on fuel purchases. The government has had to respond by extending an export ban on gasoline while simultaneously seeking imports from allies in Asia, including China, South Korea, and Singapore. Energy expert Thomas O'Donnell highlighted that Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have led to the destruction of critical oil facilities, rendering at least four refineries inactive, including some of the largest in the country. With about 70% of the disruption attributed to these strikes, the situation increasingly threatens Russia's transport network that relies heavily on diesel for trucks and railways. Notably, facilities such as the Kirishi