From an island fort outside historic Mumbai, oil tankers carrying Russian crude can be seen unloading at refineries on the city’s southeastern coast. India’s oil imports from Russia have surged to 46%, a stark increase from less than 2% before the invasion of Ukraine. This sharp rise has propped up the Russian economy, making Moscow India’s largest oil supplier last month. While China has also increased its Russian crude imports, India has become a strategic partner for Russia. However, challenges remain for India’s continued purchasing spree. Infrastructure constraints at the Indian refineries, designed to process less sulfurous domestic crude, limit the proportion of Russian oil that can be processed. Without substantial investments to enable heavier crude processing, the potential increase in Russian barrels is estimated to be only 2-3%. India also lacks the commercial tanks necessary for blending Russian crude, relative to countries like China. Moreover, concerns about damaging relations with existing Middle Eastern suppliers and potential disruptions due to sanctions further restrict a long-term shift towards Russian crude. The future of India’s oil imports from Russia depends on government enthusiasm to guide refiners, as well as political considerations. While Russia has less economic leverage, the close security relationship between the two countries provides a strong foundation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US has underscored the importance of cheap oil imports for India, though the White House remains focused on minimizing revenues to the Kremlin. Ultimately, sustaining and expanding India’s oil imports from Russia will require overcoming technical and geopolitical challenges.