Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (DIU) reported on August 29, 2026, that Russia has imported approximately 70,000 tons of Jet A-1 aviation fuel from South Korea and Egypt following a decline in domestic jet-fuel production caused by repeated attacks on oil refineries. The Ukrainian intelligence agency stated that the imported aviation fuel has already been documented aboard Russian Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to DIU, the Il-76MD-90A transport aircraft, which are powered by PS-90A-76 engines, have been utilizing Jet A-1 fuel instead of TS-1 aviation kerosene, the standard fuel specified for the airframe. The intelligence agency noted that Jet A-1 can also be used by several other Russian military aircraft, including the MiG-29, Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S, Su-57, Su-24M, and Tu-95MS/MSM, as well as jet-powered UAVs.
Ukrainian intelligence identified three tankers that delivered the fuel to Russian ports during August 2026. The tanker Astoria reportedly transported nearly 11,000 tons from Ulsan, South Korea, to Vladivostok in early August, while two other vessels, Hanna and Capibara, delivered a combined 59,000 tons from Egypt’s El Dekheila port to St. Petersburg. DIU stated that the vessels are part of Russia’s shadow fleet operating through foreign supply networks.
Reuters reported on August 28 that repeated drone strikes had disrupted operations at several major Russian refineries, pushing domestic fuel production down to approximately 70% of estimated demand by late August. In response to the refining disruptions, Russia has maintained strict restrictions on fuel exports, including a ban on jet-fuel exports that remains in place through the end of November 2026.
