India spent more on Russian fossil fuels since Ukraine invasion than US, UK, Germany and France have given in military aid, new analysis shows
India imported Russian fossil fuels amounting to $61.2 billion (€56 billion) – funds that support Russia's war efforts and eclipse the $60.7 billion (€55.8 billion) in military aid that the US, UK, Germany and France combined have sent to Ukraine since the war began.
Activists call on G20 leaders to tell Modi to stop importing Russian fossil fuels and cut off its support for Russia’s war chest.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 4, 2023 – New analysis commissioned by global campaigning group Friends of Democracy shows that India has drastically increased its reliance on Russia's fossil fuels since the latter invaded Ukraine.
The findings come as Indian Prime Minister Modi prepares to host the G20 under the banner of One Earth, One Family, One Future, yet continues to align with a Russian regime whose invasion has left nearly 500,000 dead.
New statistics from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show Russian fossil fuel imports into India have increased by 450% year-on-year from the start of the invasion. This is an increase from 15 million tonnes of imported fossil fuels the year prior to the invasion to 83 million tonnes a year after – suggesting the Indian government is profiting from other countries' reluctance to increase the Russian war chest.
Source: Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), August 2023.
India has drastically increased its import of Russian crude oil – an increase of 1335% year-on-year since the start of the invasion.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India has imported 142 million tonnes of fossil fuels valued at $61.2 billion. This figure is especially stark considering all the Ukraine military aid from the US, UK, Germany and France combined is $60.7 billion.
Since early 2022, the US has sent Ukraine $46 billion in military aid to ward off Russian aggression, the UK has sent £4.6 billion ($5.8 billion), Germany has sent €7.4 billion ($8 billion), and France has sent €830 million ($900 million).
Ricken Patel, Director of Friends of Democracy said “Prime Minister Modi has ignored sanctions to make India one of the leading funders of the war in Ukraine. In the last year, he’s sent more oil and coal money to Russia than Ukraine gets in military aid from the US, UK and Germany combined.
Modi tells G20 leaders that India is “the mother of democracy”, but his regime is presiding over an assault on democratic freedoms at home and abroad, through attacks on media freedom, political opponents and religious minorities.”
As G20 world leaders descend onto New Delhi, leaders must maintain a firm line that India cannot side with Russia on the war in Ukraine. Modi must commit to protecting democracy at home and around the world.
Full data set of Russian fossil fuel imports into Ukraine since the start of the invasion in February 2022 is available. Spokespeople are available for interviews and comment.
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