Moscow: India remains a major buyer of Russian crude, continuing to import substantial volumes of feedstock despite Western sanctions, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov has said.
Speaking to the Rossiya-24 TV channel, Alipov noted that India’s purchases of Russian oil in October 2025 stood at around 1.75 million barrels per day, maintaining roughly the same level as in recent months.
“If we look at October statistics, India continues buying huge quantities of Russian feedstock—about 1.75 million barrels daily,” Alipov said, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. “This figure fluctuates slightly from month to month but remains steady on average.”
The comments come amid new U.S. sanctions announced in October against Russia’s two largest oil producers—Rosneft and Lukoil—which together account for nearly 57 per cent of Russia’s crude output. The sanctions, set to take effect on November 21, are part of Washington’s efforts to tighten restrictions on Moscow over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The European Union has also imposed its own ban on Russian crude oil and petroleum products.
Responding to questions on India’s continued energy imports from Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated on October 30 that the country’s energy policy remains driven by national interest and affordability concerns.
“India’s decisions on oil purchases are guided by market dynamics and our responsibility to ensure affordable fuel for 1.4 billion citizens,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing. “Our position on sourcing energy remains unchanged and based on our national priorities.”
Jaiswal also acknowledged that several Indian companies have adjusted their procurement strategies following U.S. sanctions. “Our companies have informed us of their approach, and these updates have been shared publicly,” he said.
A recent Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report highlighted the economic impact of U.S. measures, noting that since Washington introduced a 25 per cent tariff on “Russian oil” imports on July 31, total duties on Indian goods have doubled to 50 per cent. The report said this has led to a 37 per cent drop in exports between May and September.
Despite global pressure, India has maintained that its energy decisions will continue to focus on ensuring reliable and affordable fuel supplies for its population.
