Russia has confirmed it is now importing refined petroleum products, marking a significant shift for a country that historically exported fuel. A tanker carrying approximately 68,000 tonnes of gasoline from India’s Vadinar port arrived at Russia’s Arctic port of Vitino in early August, according to shipping data and industry sources. The importation represents a reversal of traditional trade flows and underscores the impact of the war on Russia’s refining infrastructure. Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak acknowledged the imports on Wednesday without disclosing volume or source details. Industry data indicates at least two additional gasoline shipments from India are expected within the next two weeks. Russia is also arranging rail imports from Belarus and Kazakhstan while implementing a ban on fuel exports. Fuel stations in Moscow have reinstated purchase limits, with state-owned Rosneft restricting petrol sales to 30 litres per customer at all stations nationwide.
Ukraine’s military campaign targeting Russian refineries and fuel depots has succeeded in creating widespread fuel shortages across Russia and in occupied Crimea. Previously, Russia had also begun importing diesel from Asia. The shift from exporter to importer status reflects the strategic toll of Kyiv’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
On the military front, Russia conducted heavy missile strikes on Kyiv early on Thursday, killing at least five people according to local officials. Residential areas and warehouses were hit, with the Kyiv mayor reporting a nine-storey residential block partially collapsed and fires breaking out. Ukraine’s air force said Russia deployed Kalibr missiles in the attack. Additional attacks occurred in other Ukrainian regions, including a Russian drone strike on a minibus in Kherson that killed four people and a Banderol drone-missile hit on police headquarters at Zhytomyr that killed two officers and wounded at least 20 others. In Russia’s border regions, drone strikes killed two people.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Iryna Mudra, a presidential deputy chief of staff, following reports of a corruption investigation into alleged money laundering. The anti-corruption agency Nabu indicated it was investigating a criminal conspiracy involving high-ranking presidential office officials.
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