New Delhi: India, accused by the US of financing Russian war efforts by purchasing its crude, overtook other suppliers to become Ukraine’s largest source of diesel in July 2025. Supplies from India accounted for 15.5 per cent of all imports of diesel by Ukraine. .
NaftoRynok, a Ukrainian oil market analytics firm, claimed that daily shipments averaged 2,700 tonnes. This was among India’s highest monthly export figures this year. This is a dramatic shift from July 2024, when India supplied just 1.9 per cent of Ukraine’s diesel needs.
This comes at a time when the US has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The irony is striking. While the US punishes India for its energy ties with Moscow, Indian fuel is simultaneously helping to sustain Kyiv’s wartime economy.
Diesel from India is reaching Ukraine through multiple channels. A significant portion moves via tanker deliveries along the Danube from Romania. Additionally, cargo is routed through the OPET terminal in Turkey’s Marmara Ereğlisi port, a pathway that continues to operate despite partial sanctions. These routes have enabled India to establish itself as a reliable supplier even under complex geopolitical conditions.
According to reports, India supplied 10.2 per cent of Ukraine’s diesel imports from January to July 2025. This was a fivefold increase from 1.9 per cent during the same period last year. While India’s share is now higher than that of several European partners, its physical export volumes still trail behind those from Greece and Turkey. Nevertheless, July’s figures place India ahead of all competitors in proportional terms.
While India was the single largest supplier for July, other countries remain important. Diesel from Greece and Turkey remained substantial, though Slovakian deliveries outpaced both. Supplies from Poland and Lithuania’s Orlen Group together accounted for about 20 per cent of total imports. Meanwhile, Swedish exports from Preem’s facilities, routed via Poland and Denmark, hit record levels since the onset of Russia’s full-scale war, contributing 4 per cent of July’s imports.
