India's imports of Russian oil are anticipated to reach a three-year low in December, a significant decrease from the multi-month highs seen in November. This reduction is largely due to refiners looking for alternative oil sources to adhere to stricter Western sanctions on Russia, particularly those affecting major producers like Rosneft and Lukoil. The U.S. sanctions require buyers to wind down dealings with these firms by November 21, while the EU has set a January 21 deadline for similar restrictions. As a result, many Indian refiners, including Mangalore Refinery and Hindustan Petroleum, have ceased buying Russian oil. Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum are now focusing on non-sanctioned entities. Despite this, Nayara Energy continues to process Russian oil, while Reliance Industries has committed to handling previously arranged cargoes. The shift in sourcing is also influenced by rising U.S. oil imports, as India faces pressure to diversify its energy supply.