In September, Russian fuel shipments to Indian ports declined to 1.9 million barrels per day
India has started reducing its imports of Russian oil following the introduction of new US sanctions. In September, supply volumes fell to their lowest level since April 2026. This was reported by Glavcom citing Vladyslav Vlasiuk, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The passage of US legislation known as the Graham Act has prompted Indian state-owned companies to reassess their energy procurement strategies from Russia. According to Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Commissioner for Sanctions Policy at the Office of the President of Ukraine, oil imports to the country dropped to 1.9 million barrels per day in September.
Energy security and new restrictions
China and India reacted to the new US sanctions by citing their sovereign right to choose trading partners and ensure national energy security. Despite this public stance, Indian state entities have already begun adjusting their plans for continued cooperation with Russian suppliers.
Vlasiuk noted that increasing sanctions pressure is intended to diminish Moscow’s oil and gas revenues. In his view, the global market is capable of adapting to these shifts, whereas Russia’s internal capacity for rapid adjustment to such restrictions is severely limited.
Sanctions evasion risks
The prospect of a long-term decline in energy revenues, according to the Commissioner, may compel the Kremlin to change its negotiating position. While acknowledging the potential for sanction-evasion attempts, the official emphasized the nature of the oil market, where long-term contracts and reputation are paramount.
Payments for oil contracts often pass through banking systems, making financial transactions vulnerable to secondary sanctions. While attempts at manipulation cannot be entirely eliminated, strict enforcement of sanctions regimes significantly complicates shadow supply chains.
Photo: Bloomberg
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