Why oil-rich Russia buys fuel from India

Russia, a top global oil producer, is restricting petrol distribution at home due to Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries, causing fuel shortages, according to TOI's Aryan Singh report. The nation continues to extract crude at near-record levels while domestic pumps run short, highlighting the disparity between Russia's crude output and its ability to refine it into usable fuel.

This rationing echoes a problem that emerged earlier this year and has intensified recently. India has become a crucial petrol supplier to Russia as its refineries suffer from the attacks, which have reinstated fuel sale limits in Moscow. The crisis stems from Russia's robust crude production but its limited refining capabilities.

Ukraine's drone attacks have crippled several major refineries, causing a drop in domestic petrol output and forcing Russia to import fuel from other countries, including India.