India's petrol is navigating its way to Russia via international traders rather than through direct sales channels. The damage to Russia's refining infrastructure has severely impacted its fuel production. This indirect trade underscores the ongoing shifts within the global energy market and the consequences of sanctions.

India's oil imports from Russia surpassed 40% in May 2026, amid rising prices and renewed imports from Iran and Venezuela.

Russia is one of the few countries in the world that stands out for being one of the biggest exporters of crude oil and also among the largest refiners. But, four years after…