In a fiery statement issued on July 20, Russian oil giant Rosneft condemned the European Union’s recent sanctions against the Vadinar refinery in India, calling them “unjustified and illegal.” The refinery, operated by Nayara Energy-an Indo-Russian joint venture in which Rosneft holds a 49% stake-has become the latest target in Brussels’ widening sanctions campaign against entities connected to Moscow amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The measures, announced as part of the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia, extend beyond traditional European borders, triggering concern in both Moscow and New Delhi over the legality, impact, and motivation behind the move. While the EU insists its efforts are aimed at curbing Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations, Rosneft and Indian officials see the sanctions as a dangerous overreach with potential global economic ramifications.

The Vadinar refinery, located in Gujarat, is one of India’s largest private-sector refineries, with a processing capacity of 20 million tons of crude oil annually. It plays a vital role in India’s energy infrastructure and economic development. The EU’s sanctions-ostensibly targeting its ties to Russian oil-threaten to disrupt this vital node in India’s energy supply chain.

“Rosneft Oil Company considers the European Union’s decision to impose restrictive measures on the Indian refinery of Nayara Energy as unjustified and illegal,” the company said in a press release. The Russian firm denounced the action as “another example of extraterritorial implementation of politically motivated restrictions that blatantly violate........

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