Russian Refineries Stumble as Moscow Turns to Asian Jet Fuel

The shipment, scheduled to depart from Chiba, Japan, in early July, will navigate a convoluted path through South Korea’s Yeosu port via ship-to-ship transfers to mask its ultimate destination. This maneuver marks a stark reversal for a country that previously dominated regional aviation fuel markets. The government has attempted to mitigate the fallout by establishing a 24-hour national monitoring center, yet persistent attacks on refineries and storage depots have rendered these measures largely reactive.

Domestic supply has withered under the pressure. Exports have plummeted from 30,000 barrels per day last year to approximately 13,000 barrels currently. The strain is bleeding into neighboring states; Uzbekistan Airways has already curtailed flights into Russia, while Kazakhstan is actively negotiating fuel imports from China to compensate for the volatility. As President Volodymyr Zelensky signals a continued campaign against energy targets to disrupt Moscow’s war financing, the Kremlin finds itself scrambling to plug systemic gaps in its fuel chain.