Russia imports fuel from South Korea and Belarus as Ukrainian strikes on refineries create shortages

Sustained Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have severely crippled Russia's refining capacity, forcing the country to import fuel. In late July 2026, traders shipped 30,000 metric tons of refined fuel from South Korea to Russia's Far East, while rail imports of Belarusian gasoline and diesel hit record highs. To stabilize its domestic market amid widespread shortages and rationing, Moscow has extended strict export bans on gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel into early 2027.

Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries

• ▪A Ukrainian drone strike in early July 2026 halted operations at the Omsk refinery, Russia's largest refinery and top gasoline producer, damaging a primary crude distillation unit.
• ▪Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast overnight on August 6, 2026, reportedly hitting the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery, which is one of Russia's top five largest refineries.
• ▪Ukrainian drone strikes halted operations at eight Russian oil refineries in July 2026, and at three additional plants in early August 2026.

Russian refinery capacity decline

• ▪By early July 2026, the Ukrainian General Staff estimated that 43 percent of Russia's refining capacity had been knocked offline due to drone strikes.
• ▪Industry sources estimated in mid-July 2026 that nearly 40 percent of Russia's refining capacity was unlikely to return to operation within the following two months.
• ▪Russian oil refinery throughput fell in July 2026 to 3.6 million barrels daily, the lowest level since 2002 and over 30 percent below the seasonal average.

Fuel shortages in Russia

• ▪Russian gasoline output fell in early July 2026 to a level equivalent to approximately 65 percent of the seasonal average consumption.
• ▪Russia experienced nationwide fuel shortages and fuel rationing in mid-2026, with car queues forming outside gas stations, particularly in Siberian regions.

South Korean fuel imports

• ▪Traders shipped approximately 30,000 metric tons of refined fuels, including diesel and jet fuel, from South Korea's Ulsan port to Russia's Far East in late July 2026.
• ▪A planned shipment of at least 200,000 barrels of Japanese jet fuel to Russia via South Korea in July 2026 did not take place after Tokyo clarified its export ban includes indirect shipments.
• ▪South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy declined to comment on the late July 2026 fuel shipments to Russia, while Russia's Energy Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Belarusian fuel imports

• ▪Gasoline shipments by rail from Belarus to Russia in the first seven months of 2026 surged 25-fold compared to the same period in 2025, reaching nearly 665,000 metric tons.
• ▪Belarusian jet fuel deliveries to Russia totaled approximately 13,100 metric tons in July 2026, down from 16,000 metric tons in June 2026.
• ▪Gasoline shipments by rail from Belarus to Russia rose 13 percent from June 2026 to 212,000 metric tons in July 2026, while diesel deliveries doubled to 162,000 metric tons.

Russian fuel export restrictions

• ▪Russia banned gasoline exports starting in April 2026, jet fuel exports starting June 1, 2026, and diesel exports starting July 8, 2026, to protect its domestic market.
• ▪Russia extended its ban on diesel and gasoline exports until January 2027, though some restrictions are scheduled to ease starting September 1, 2026.