Russia strikes kill 3 in Ukraine; Kyiv hits 2 oil tankers, Baltic terminal

Russian drone and missile strikes killed three civilians across Ukraine on 03 May 2026, while Ukrainian forces struck two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers near Novorossiysk and a Baltic Sea oil-loading terminal, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed. The attacks hit Russia’s export infrastructure that supplies India, now Moscow’s largest crude buyer.

Zelensky said the tankers targeted near Novorossiysk on the Black Sea were carrying Russian oil under the sanctions-evading shadow fleet network. Strikes also hit a major Baltic oil-loading port. Ukrainian officials reported casualties in Odesa, Kherson and Kharkiv from overnight Russian attacks involving Shahed drones and ballistic missiles.

India’s exposure is direct. Crude imports from Russia nearly doubled to 2.25 million barrels per day in March 2026, making Russia the top supplier ahead of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Russian oil accounted for 20% of total Indian crude imports in February 2026. The surge followed a US Treasury waiver permitting purchase of Russian crude already loaded onto tankers before the sanctions cutoff.

Brent crude futures traded at $109 per barrel on 03 May 2026 after the strikes. Brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher, in an April 2026 report, projected sustained prices at this level would inflate India’s annual crude import bill by over $70 billion. India imports roughly 4.3 million barrels daily, the world’s third-largest consumer.

Our energy purchases are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. Criticism from the United States and the European Union is unjustified and unreasonable.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson · MEA briefing · April 2026

The Ministry of External Affairs has defended Russian crude purchases as ensuring “predictable and affordable energy costs” for Indian consumers. MEA did not issue fresh comment on the 03 May strikes by publication time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently called for dialogue and respect for territorial integrity at G20 and SCO platforms.

The diaspora exposure remains contained. MEA records show 2,610 Indian citizens in Ukraine and 62,825 in Russia as of March 2025. Moscow set a 2025 quota for 71,817 Indian workers to address labour shortages in construction and manufacturing.

The International Energy Agency’s April 2026 Oil Market Report forecast global demand contraction of 80 kb/d this year, citing prolonged war disruption. UN Security Council discussions on the Black Sea shipping corridor are scheduled for late May 2026, with India expected to abstain on any resolution censuring Russia, consistent with prior votes.