Bad News for Putin: Russia Is Now Forced to Import Fuel

Bad News for Putin’s Ukraine War: Russia Is Now Forced to Import Fuel

-Ukraine’s systematic drone and missile strikes on Russian refineries are reshaping Russia’s fuel market and war financing.

-With up to 40% of refining capacity disrupted, Moscow has extended bans on gasoline exports, partially restricted diesel exports, and faces rationing, panic buying, and rising prices at home.

-To stabilize supplies, Russia plans duty-free imports via the Far East and subsidies to cover price gaps, sourcing fuel from China, South Korea, Singapore, and Belarus, while loosening rules on octane additives.

-The refinery outages are cutting diesel exports to multi-year lows, threatening Kremlin revenues as Ukraine presses allies for tighter energy sanctions.