Will Russia’s Fuel Crisis End Oil Exports to India?

Russia is grappling with an emerging nationwide fuel crisis as Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries have knocked out more than 20 percent of the country's refining capacity. Shortages of gasoline and diesel have spread to dozens of regions, prompting rationing measures in over 50 federal entities where stations limit purchases to small volumes per customer and long queues form at pumps.

Key factors include repeated attacks targeting major facilities such as the Kapotnya refinery near Moscow, which remains offline for months disrupting supply chains and logistics networks. Seasonal spikes in demand combined with reduced production have worsened bottlenecks while Western sanctions hinder quick repairs to advanced equipment. Authorities have responded with export bans on certain fuels, lowered quality standards for domestic sales and a new task force but experts warn that sustained strikes could escalate the crisis further affecting daily life, transport, and agriculture across vast territories.