Russia's fuel crisis may spill into neighboring countries

Russia's fuel crisis, stemming from Ukrainian attacks on its refineries, is creating ripple effects that could significantly impact neighboring nations dependent on Russian supplies. Newspapers like Védomosti highlight the vulnerability of Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia, which rely heavily on Russian hydrocarbons.

Kyrgyzstan has already reached out to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus for assistance. Tajikistan, which imported 1.2 million tons of petroleum products and liquefied gas from Russia in 2025, has yet to officially comment on the market situation. Mongolia, importing over 90% of its petroleum products from Russia, has an intergovernmental agreement for substantial annual supplies.

The domestic impact within Russia is also evident, with regions imposing restrictions on gasoline and diesel sales at service stations. This has already driven up the costs of transporting goods. The Kremlin has acknowledged the crisis, attributing it to a sudden increase in demand and even considering fuel imports to alleviate the shortage.