India’s crude oil imports from Russia are set to surpass 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in December 2025, reaching a six-month high as of December 17, defying U.S. sanctions on entities like Rosneft and Lukoil. Indian refiners, including Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum, have ramped up purchases from non-sanctioned suppliers offering deep discounts, with shipments projected at 1.2 million bpd initially and potentially averaging 1.5 million bpd by month-end, per trade sources. Major volumes are arriving at Vadinar port for Nayara Energy’s refinery, up from November’s 1.77-1.9 million bpd record, bolstered by pre-November 21 deadline stockpiling and resilient India-Russia ties reaffirmed in recent Putin-Modi talks. As the world’s top buyer of Russian seaborne crude, India leverages these discounts amid global energy pressures, ensuring supply stability without compromising strategic autonomy.