Russian Crude Supplies Insulate India from Global Energy Disruptions

Russian oil supplies helped India weather disruptions in global energy trade caused by the West Asian conflict. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Moscow's ability to meet demand from its partners, even in difficult geopolitical conditions, has proved it to be a reliable energy partner.

According to Rudenko, existing arrangements between India and Russia significantly mitigated the consequences of disruptions to global energy trade. India increased imports of Russian crude after the US-Israeli-Iran war disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

In March 2026, India's Russian crude imports nearly doubled from the previous month to 2.25 million barrels per day (bpd) and accounted for half of its oil purchases. The Indian government has maintained that securing affordable and dependable energy requires multiple suppliers, and warned against restrictions that could distort or constrict global energy markets.