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India's oil minister denies directly supplying fuel to Russia, acknowledges indirect shipments

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk

Primary source Internal intake · 1 reviewed intake signal · Desk window 15:41

TL;DR

India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, denied that India is directly supplying fuel to Russia, in response to media reports. He acknowledged that fuel produced in India may reach Russia through international traders, rather than via direct government or commercial contracts.

01 · THE DISPATCH

India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, issued a statement Friday denying that India is directly supplying fuel to Russia, in response to media reports that Indian fuel has begun arriving on the Russian market. Puri acknowledged that fuel produced in India may reach Russia through international traders, rather than through direct government or commercial contracts.

The statement comes amid a deepening fuel crisis in Russia, which has been importing maritime fuel from India and other sources to address shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on its energy infrastructure. As The Zioneer reported on July 1, Russia has begun importing maritime fuel from India, with at least 60,000 tons of gasoline shipped so far. Russia has also imposed fuel sale restrictions in several regions and a ban on civilian fuel sales in Crimea.

The minister's denial appears designed to address concerns that India, a major buyer of Russian oil, is directly aiding Russia's war effort, while the acknowledgment of indirect shipments suggests that Indian-produced fuel is still reaching Russia through commercial channels beyond New Delhi's direct control.

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