Russia to import gasoline as Ukrainian strikes force Putin to use reserves

[OKIsItJustMe]

Source: Politico

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia have impacted Vladimir Putin’s country’s ability to produce fuel.

JUNE 30, 2026 7:44 PM CET
BY MARTINA SAPIO

The Kremlin confirmed Tuesday that Russia is in talks to import gasoline from abroad, an extraordinary step for one of the world's largest oil exporters, as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to disrupt the country.

This acknowledgment marks the clearest sign yet that Moscow is struggling to stabilize its domestic fuel market after months of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and energy infrastructure.

"Discussions are actively being held," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that imports would proceed if agreements could be reached "at acceptable price points." He declined to identify the countries involved.

Russia is the world's second-largest crude oil exporter and third-largest exporter of refined petroleum products, making the prospect of gasoline imports politically and economically surprising.

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Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-import-gasoline-ukraine-strikes-fuel-shortage/

[maxsolomon]

1. Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan...

Is there a pipeline from any of those nations? Any Iranian export terminals on the Black Sea?

Unless they plan to bring it from Africa via the Baltic Sea?

[Emrys]

7. I don't fancy the chances of any Russian import terminals on the Black Sea, what few are left

That's if the Ukrainians didn't pick off any unfriendly tankers in transit as part of their long-range sanctions regime.

Similar applies to any imports by other means and routes. It would be all very well getting them to Russia, but then they have to be distributed, let alone processed if not in final consumable form. The Ukrainians have the firepower to spare and seem to have their eyes in as far as targeting goes.

[Fla Dem]

2. "Slava Ukraini"

[Mysterian]

3. It's far past time for the Russian people to rise up and depose their madman dictator

The Russian people have shamed themselves with their cowardice.

[dave99]

4. The Russian people have been culled over the last 130 years

[SunSeeker]

8. Anyone with the ability to leave has left.

The people who are still there are firmly under Putin’s thumb…most are simply too exhausted and scared to fight back. But some still support Putin, because they share Putin’s bigotry, or are criminals who profit from his kleptocracy, or both.

[ToxMarz]

5. Hopefully Ukraine can blow up the fuel they import too

[Bayard]

6. Are there sanctions in place to prevent that?

[Haggard Celine]

9. Bravo, Ukraine!