Russia’s ambassador to India Denis Alipov announced in September 2026 that Moscow is ready to supply India with unlimited crude oil, framing Western sanctions as illegitimate pressure. India’s imports of Russian crude peaked above 2 million barrels per day during 2025-2026, representing roughly 55% of India’s total crude imports for a country of 1.4 billion people. However, sanctions pressure has caused significant volatility, with import volumes dropping to between 400,000 and 1 million barrels per day at various points. This Russia-India crude corridor has altered global oil trade patterns, with barrels previously destined for Europe now traveling longer routes to Indian ports while Middle Eastern suppliers redirect volumes toward Europe. Indian refiners like Reliance Industries remain exposed to both favorable pricing and regulatory risks associated with processing sanctioned oil.
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