According to information obtained by HaberDenizde.com, Russia has exported fuel from Türkiye for the first time in its history. The first 30,000 dwt MR tanker, loaded with gasoline, is currently in the Black Sea and heading towards Novorossiysk Port.

It has been reported that Russia has requested fuel not only from Türkiye but also from the Asian route, and that a tanker has already set sail for this purpose and is expected to arrive in the country before the end of June 2026.

Oil and its derivatives have historically always flowed from Russia to Türkiye; indeed, Turkey is one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil and refined products. Therefore, this urgent fuel shipment by sea is interpreted as a major break and change in the trade dynamics between the two countries.

Russia has imported fuel from neighbors such as Belarus and Kazakhstan in the past, but currently neither country has enough spare capacity to cover Russia's current deficit. Sources say Moscow considered importing fuel by sea last year as well, but at that time local production was sufficient.

Refinery attacks and domestic crisis

For months, Ukraine has been systematically targeting Russian refineries with UAVs and drones. Most recently, raids on the Taneco refinery in Tatarstan and a facility in Moscow brought production to a standstill.

According to reports in Russian media, many regions of the country are experiencing severe fuel shortages. Parts of Crimea and Siberia, which are under Russian control, have officially confirmed the shortages. The Kremlin had already banned gasoline exports until the end of July, taking into account the increased vehicle usage season during the summer months.

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