Russia’s fuel crisis has reached the point where one of the world’s biggest oil producers is preparing to import jet fuel.
According to Reuters, Russia is set to receive at least 200,000 barrels of jet fuel originating in Japan through a complex chain of traders and ship-to-ship transfers via South Korea, underscoring just how badly Ukrainian drone strikes have disrupted the country’s refining system.
The cargo is expected to load from Chiba, Japan, in the first half of July before heading to South Korea’s Yeosu port for a ship-to-ship transfer. From there, it is expected to sail to Russia, although the final destination has not been disclosed.
For a country that until recently exported aviation fuel, the optics are difficult to ignore.
Russia has spent months insisting its fuel shortages were manageable. Then came gasoline purchase restrictions, talk of a possible diesel export ban, and President Vladimir Putin’s unusually public admission last weekend that fuel shortages had become serious enough to warrant direct government intervention. A 24-hour monitoring center is now tracking supplies nationwide as Ukrainian drones continue to hammer refineries, storage depots, and fuel logistics.
The latest import plans suggest Moscow is now plugging holes wherever it can.
Jet fuel has become an especially sensitive commodity. Russia banned most jet fuel exports through November in an effort to preserve domestic supplies, while production has been squeezed by repeated attacks on refining infrastructure. According to Kpler data cited by Reuters, Russian jet fuel exports have fallen to about 13,000 barrels per day this year, down from roughly 30,000 bpd in 2025.
The shortages go beyond Russia. Neighboring countries that rely heavily on Russian fuel are starting to feel the squeeze. Uzbekistan Airways has already reduced flights to Russia due to the shortages, and Kazakhstan is exploring fuel imports from China to stave off further supply disruptions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to intensify strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, arguing that every refinery taken offline weakens Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its war effort.
By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
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