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Ukraine Taps Indian Diesel After Russian Strikes Cripple Refinery
8 Sep
Summary
- Ukraine imports Indian diesel after Russian attacks destroy Kremenchug refinery
- Indian fuel now accounts for 10% of Ukraine's diesel market
- Ukraine's diesel imports fell 13% year-on-year in first half of 2025
As of September 2025, Ukraine has been forced to rely on Indian diesel imports after Russian attacks destroyed the country's key Kremenchug refinery last June. According to fuel consultancy A-95, international traders have been supplying the fuel to Ukraine via Turkey and Romania, with Indian diesel unexpectedly capturing around 10% of the Ukrainian market.
Prior to the full-scale war that began in 2022, Ukraine had primarily imported diesel from Belarus and Russia to make up for its lack of domestic production. However, since the start of the conflict, the country has been sourcing the majority of its fuel from European nations to the west.
The loss of the Kremenchug refinery, which was hit by dozens of Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, has compelled traders to seek alternative sources to meet Ukraine's diesel demand. As a result, they have turned to India, which imports a significant portion of its crude oil from Russia.
In the first half of 2025, Ukraine's overall diesel imports fell by 13% year-on-year, reaching 2.74 million metric tons. The Ukrainian defense ministry has even purchased some of the Indian-sourced fuel, though it typically does not comment on such procurement.
