Russia set to buy more fuel from Belarus amid war-linked shortage

October 1, Pozirk. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak asked Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to increase gasoline imports from Belarus in October to 300,000 tons, Kommersant reported.

The volume of Belarusian fuel supplies to Russia in September is estimated at 45,000 t, according to the newspaper. Novak proposed increasing fuel imports through the Transneft pipeline system and by refining oil in Belarus on a give-and-take basis.

The measure is proposed “in the context of falling production and shortage of gasoline in some regions,” the Russian newspaper said.

Russia faces fuel shortages due to regular attacks by Ukrainian drones on its refineries.

Belarus resumed gasoline exports to Russia in July after a pause since last autumn, Russia’s RBC reported last month.

From July to September, nearly 97,000 tons of Belarusian petroleum products were sold through the St. Petersburg Exchange — a 36-percent increase compared with the same period in 2024.

In September alone, gasoline shipments from Belarusian refineries jumped 168 percent month on month, while diesel sales rose 83 percent, according to RBC.

Although Belarus’ fuel supplies are irregular, their resumption coincides with a shortage on the Russian market. While Belarus’ overall market share remains small, its deliveries are viewed as an important short-term relief measure.

In 2023, Belarus exported 45,000 tons of gasoline and 270,000 tons of diesel to Russia.

Since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has supported the Kremlin by allowing Russian troops to attack from its territory and by supplying Moscow with weapons.