Reverse oil flow: India supplies gasoline to Russia - why it matters
Reports indicate that India is supplying gasoline to Russia, despite Russia being a major global oil exporter, due to domestic refining damage caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Indian officials deny direct state involvement, suggesting the trade is being facilitated by international intermediaries.
Why it matters
This highlights the complex and opaque nature of global energy supply chains under the pressure of international sanctions and regional conflicts.
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 Moscow’s war with Ukraine began, reports have emerged suggesting that India is now supplying gasoline to Russia.According to a Reuters report, traders have sold gasoline produced by Nayara Energy. Incidentally, Nayara is a Russia-backed refinery in India. The refinery has processed only Russian crude since the EU sanctions imposed in July 2025 and relies on international traders for both crude imports and refined product exports. Last week, Reuters reported that around 60,000 metric tons of gasoline had been dispatched from India to Russia.However, Oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that Indian companies are not directly selling gasoline to Russia.
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