Belarus Seizes Opportunity as Russia Struggles with Fuel Shortage
Belarusian oil refineries have posted their highest profitability in a decade due to Russia's fuel crisis, according to independent news agency Pozirk. The refineries' head, Ilya Ikan, attributed the results to 'favorable conditions in foreign markets, primarily in the eastern direction.'
In June and July, a reserve capacity came online for round-the-clock operations at Belarusian oil refineries. This allowed them to process record volumes of gasoline and diesel.
Belarus has been supplying Russia with significant amounts of fuel, including gasoline and diesel. In the first seven months of 2026, gasoline shipments rose 25-fold compared to the same period in 2025, reaching nearly 665,000 tons.
Russian refining capacity has been severely impacted by Ukrainian drone strikes, resulting in a significant shortfall. Russia's refineries have been operating at reduced levels, with some even shutting down due to the shortage.