Monitoring Desk: Kazakhstan is tightening its borders to control fuel smuggling to Russia and Interior Ministry has established 59 police checkpoints near vehicle border crossings.
According to available information, vehicles leaving Kazakhstan are now subject to inspections aimed at detecting auxiliary fuel tanks used for smuggling.
Police reported 255 vehicles equipped with illegal auxiliary fuel tanks smuggled fuel in first six months of 2026. It is pertinent to mention that Russia faces growing fuel shortages following Ukrainian drone strikes on major oil refineries and several regions have introduced rationing of gasoline sales. On the other hand, Kazakhstan has extended ban on gasoline exports for another six months.
Under a proposal by the Energy Ministry, restrictions on gasoline exports to all destinations, including member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), will remain in force from November 2026 through May 2027. This situation is impacting bordering Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and to some extend Tajikistan.
Kazakh authorities have indicated they could supply fuel and lubricants to Russia, but only if domestic demand is fully met and surplus volumes are available. Russia, once among the world’s largest fuel exporters, is now experiencing growing shortages after Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil-processing infrastructure. Among the latest targets was the Omsk Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s largest oil-processing facilities. Owned by Gazprom Neft and located in the city of Omsk, the refinery had been among the few major Russian refineries not previously targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.
