Off Mumbai, sanctioned Russian oil tankers swap crude: Report

India Nov 08, 2025

Two Russian oil tankers under international sanctions swapped 720,000 barrels of crude right off Mumbai's coast on November 4, with no attempt to hide where the oil came from.
Both ships—Fortis and Ailana—are blacklisted by the UK and EU, making this transfer a bold move as new US sanctions shake up India's energy ties with Russia.

US sanctions ripple through Russia-India oil trade

With US rules forcing all deals with Russian giants Rosneft and Lukoil to stop by November 21, over half of India's Russian oil buyers have already hit pause.
This unusual tanker swap shows how tricky things are getting for Indian refiners, who now face tough choices about where to get their oil next.
The whole situation highlights just how much global politics can mess with everyday fuel supplies.