Indian oil company Nayara Energy has reportedly shipped at least 60,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Russia, according to industry sources cited by Reuters. Two tankers carrying 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes each have been dispatched.

Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that Indian firms are not directly selling fuel to Russia, but acknowledged it is possible that Russian entities purchased Indian-origin fuel through international traders.

The shipments come as Ukrainian forces have carried out over 50 attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure since March, causing fuel shortages and rationing in several Russian regions, including Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the shortages as temporary and not critical, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mocked the situation, saying Russia, once called a gas station, now faces gas shortages.

Nayara Energy is majority-owned by Russian entities: 49% by Rosneft and 49% by United Capital Partners. The company was acquired in 2015 with the approval of Indian PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The European Union imposed sanctions on Nayara in July 2023, banning imports of petroleum products processed from Russian crude and restricting access to EU shipping insurance and financial services. Since then, Nayara has relied solely on Russian crude and international traders for exports.

Source: www.aljazeera.com