Russia turns to Kazakhstan for fuel as drone strikes hit refineries Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Putin Russia is seeking emergency gasoline supplies from Kazakhstan after Ukrainian drone attacks and refinery outages slashed domestic fuel production, exposing growing strains in one of the world's biggest energy exporters. Industry sources say Moscow is discussing imports of around 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline in an effort to stabilise supplies and prevent deeper disruptions across the domestic market. Drone Campaign Hits at the Heart of Supply A series of attacks on major refineries in central Russia has dealt a significant blow to fuel production. Combined with unscheduled maintenance, the outages have cut gasoline output by roughly a quarter compared with the same period last year. The disruption has forced the Kremlin into an increasingly uncomfortable position. A country that routinely exports fuel abroad is now exploring imports to cover shortages at home. Moscow Scrambles for Emergency Measures Officials are weighing a range of interventions to contain the pressure. Options reportedly include tighter fuel export restrictions, increased subsidies for refiners and expanded imports. Earlier this month, authorities also allowed refineries to produce gasoline and diesel that fall below normal quality standards for domestic consumption. Plans for seaborne gasoline imports have further highlighted the scale of the challenge. Kazakhstan Holds the Key — For Now Kazakhstan has emerged as the most immediate potential supplier. The country currently has excess gasoline stocks, but that cushion may prove temporary. Maintenance at the Atyrau refinery, scheduled to run until late July, is expected to reduce available reserves. Industry sources caution that Kazakhstan's production capacity is small compared with Russia's needs, limiting how much relief it can provide. A Fuel Swap May Be the Dealbreaker Complicating matters further, one of Kazakhstan's potential supply sources depends on feedstock linked to Russia's TANECO refinery, which halted crude processing after a drone strike in June. Sources suggest a fuel swap could unlock deliveries, with Kazakhstan supplying gasoline in exchange for Russian jet fuel. Astana faces its own aviation fuel shortage next month as demand rises and refinery maintenance bites. The episode underlines a striking reality: Ukraine's long-range strikes are no longer just damaging infrastructure. They are forcing Russia to seek help from its neighbours to keep fuel flowing at home. Russia asks Kazakhstan for gasoline to ease shortages, sources say
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