Story perspectives

Russia Restarts Gasoline Imports From India, Novak Says

8/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Russia began importing gasoline from India, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.
An Oman-flagged tanker delivered about 68,000 tonnes of Indian gasoline to Vitino in early August.
Rosneft capped petrol sales at 30 litres and Moscow reinstated 50-60 litre purchase limits.
Station queues lasted up to 30 hours as fuel was available at 28 % of sites.
Police arrested five people in Volgograd for filming a video appeal to Alexander Bastrykin.

History

Historical Context

During the October 1973 OAPEC oil embargo—prompted by U.S. arms shipments to Israel—the United States and other Western nations faced sudden supply cuts, price spikes and a halt that lasted until March 1974. The shock spurred the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (established in 1977). Russia’s 2024 gasoline shortage, highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak’s reliance on an Indian shipment, echoes that historic scramble for alternative supplies.

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Story summary

Russia began importing gasoline from India, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.
An Oman-flagged tanker delivered about 68,000 tonnes of Indian gasoline to Vitino in early August.
Rosneft capped petrol sales at 30 litres and Moscow reinstated 50-60 litre purchase limits.
Station queues lasted up to 30 hours as fuel was available at 28 % of sites.
Police arrested five people in Volgograd for filming a video appeal to Alexander Bastrykin.

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