India Turns to Russian Oil as West Asia Disruptions Bite
Russian oil has played a crucial role in helping India navigate disruptions to global energy trade following the conflict in West Asia, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. Speaking to NEWS.ru, he emphasized that existing arrangements between India and Russia had 'significantly mitigated' the impact of these disruptions.
India's imports of Russian crude nearly doubled in March 2026 from the previous month, reaching 2.25 million barrels per day and accounting for half of the country's oil purchases, according to preliminary data from commodity analytics firm Kpler. This shift highlights the importance of supply diversification for India's refining and fuel distribution system.
The government has maintained that affordable and dependable energy for the country's population requires access to multiple suppliers. Rudenko referred to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which was built in collaboration with Russia, and said another site would soon be allocated for a Russian-designed nuclear power plant, linking crude oil trade with broader India-Russia energy cooperation.