India Increases Russian Oil Imports Amid Ukraine War

The Government of India is expanding its strategic and economic ties with Russia, increasing crude oil imports to more than 2.6 million barrels per day. In a reciprocal trade arrangement, New Delhi has begun supplying refined gasoline back to Russia.

To support these trade volumes and broader strategic objectives, India is utilizing alternative transport corridors. These include the Chennai-Vladivostok route and the International North-South Transport Corridor.

This economic deepening occurs while Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to publicly urge Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. New Delhi describes this balancing act as a pursuit of strategic autonomy. However, critics argue that these increased economic activities may provide essential support to the Russian war economy.