As per Reuters sources, Russian officials have unofficially requested Kazakhstan to prepare gasoline for possible export to Russia. Officially, Shyngys Ilyasov, an advisor to Kazakhstan’s energy minister, said the energy ministry has not received such a request from its Russian counterpart. Russian energy ministry refused to comment.
According to Reuters, one source claimed a deal had been already agreed upon.
Russia, usually a net fuel exporter, has faced refinery disruptions forcing oil companies to import, in particular due to Ukrainian drone strikes. Reuters estimates that at least 14% of Russian refining capacity has been lost due to the strikes.
Russia imposed a gasoline export ban until 1 September to preserve fuel for domestic consumption. Besides humanitarian purposes, Kazakhstan has also restricted fuel exports until the end of the year. Russia has already agreed to import fuel from Belarus amid shortages.
Ukrainian drone strikes
As was reported earlier, Ukraine has deployed its domestically produced Liutyi drones in precise strikes on Russian oil refineries. The drone’s design allows for autonomous navigation over long distances, making it a potent tool for targeting energy infrastructure deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian attacks have been part of broader offensives that also targeted Russian ports and warships, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies to Russian troops and cut funding for the Kremlin’s war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that the US reaction to the attacks on Russian refineries was not positive. He argued that Ukraine has the right to respond to Russian attacks on its energy grid and hit Russian fuel infrastructure, which provides fuel and money for the Russian war effort.
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted critical distillation units in refineries, maximizing economic and operational impact.
Ukraine’s use of AI-enabled drones, such as the Liutyi crewless aircraft with a combat range of 1,000 km, has been instrumental in carrying out deep strikes into Russian territory.
Read more:
- Meet “Liutyi,” Ukraine’s homegrown drone behind strikes on Russian oil refineries
- Zelenskyy: The US reaction to attacks on Russian refineries was not positive, but it is a fair play
- UK intel: Ukrainian drone strikes cut into Russia’s oil refining capacity
- Ukraine denies FT’s report that US requested to halt strikes on Russia’s oil refineries
- Ukraine attacks Russia’s Kaluga oil refinery using drones
- CNN: Ukraine’s AI-enabled drones disrupting Russia’s oil industry, so far successfully
- ISW: Russia faces difficulties with forming mobile fire groups against Ukrainian drones
