Ukraine war briefing: Russia running on imported gasoline, government confirms

Key Points:

• Russia has started importing gasoline, including shipments from India, due to fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on its refineries and depots amid the ongoing war, marking a significant shift from its previous role as a fuel exporter.
• The Indian gasoline cargo arrived at Russia’s Arctic port of Vitino, and further shipments from India, as well as imports by rail from Belarus and Kazakhstan, are expected; meanwhile, Russia has banned fuel exports and imposed purchase limits at fuel stations.
• Russian missile and drone attacks have caused fatalities and damage in Kyiv, Kherson, Zhytomyr, and Russia’s border regions, with multiple civilian casualties reported amid ongoing hostilities.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy dismissed a senior aide amid a corruption probe involving alleged money laundering linked to high-ranking presidential officials, while a Ukrainian man was arrested in Croatia over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline bombings, with Germany seeking his extradition.
• The UN humanitarian chief condemned attacks on aid workers in Kherson, highlighting the dangers faced by local organizations delivering aid, and Russia and Ukraine recently conducted a prisoner exchange involving 103 individuals each, with more swaps anticipated.