Russia imports 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 fuel from South Korea and Egypt
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Russia has imported around 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 aviation fuel from South Korea and Egypt, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence said on August 29. The fuel has been documented aboard Russian Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft operated by the Ministry of Defense. The imports follow a decline in domestic jet-fuel production after repeated attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Key Facts
- Ukraine's Defense Intelligence said on August 29 that Russia imported around 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 aviation fuel from South Korea and Egypt.
- The tanker Astoria transported almost 11,000 tons from Ulsan, South Korea, to Vladivostok in early August.
- Two other vessels, Hanna and Capibara, delivered a combined 59,000 tons from Egypt's El Dekheila port to St. Petersburg.
- Russia has extended its ban on jet-fuel exports through the end of November 2026.
- Reuters reported on August 28 that repeated drone attacks pushed domestic gasoline production to around 70% of estimated demand by late August.
Fuel Imports
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (DIU) said on August 29 that Russia imported around 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 aviation fuel from South Korea and Egypt. The imported fuel has been documented aboard Russian Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft operated by the Ministry of Defense. The aircraft, powered by PS-90A-76 engines, have been using Jet A-1 instead of TS-1, the aviation kerosene specified for the aircraft. Jet A-1 can also be used by several Russian military aircraft, including the MiG-29, Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S, Su-57, Su-24M and Tu-95MS/MSM. The Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered UAVs were identified as potential users of the fuel.
Supply Chain
Three tankers delivered the fuel to Russian ports in August, according to Ukrainian intelligence. The tanker Astoria transported almost 11,000 tons from Ulsan, South Korea, to Vladivostok in early August. Two other vessels, Hanna and Capibara, delivered a combined 59,000 tons from Egypt's El Dekheila port to St. Petersburg. DIU identified the three vessels as part of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' and said the shipments involved companies in Russia, the UAE, South Korea and Egypt. Part of the supply chain was linked to Russian companies that provide fuel to the Ministry of Defense under government contracts.
Refining Disruptions
The imports come as Ukraine continues to target Russia's oil-refining infrastructure. Reuters reported on August 28 that repeated drone attacks had disrupted operations at several major Russian refineries, pushing domestic gasoline production to around 70% of estimated demand by late August. Russia has responded by increasing imports and maintaining restrictions on fuel exports. Russia has also extended restrictions on diesel and other fuel exports, while its ban on jet-fuel exports remains in place through the end of November 2026. The aviation-fuel imports represent a shift in Russia's fuel logistics, with a country that has a large domestic refining industry sourcing finished aviation turbine fuel from overseas while simultaneously restricting exports to protect domestic supplies.
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Russia imports 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 fuel from South Korea and Egypt
