India became the leader in export of fuel additives for combat aviation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - The Independent

To spread: India was the largest supplier of fuel additives that are used to increase the capabilities of Russian fighters, putting almost half of their volume in the Russian Federation for 2024. Such additives are used in Russian Su-34 and Su-35C fighters, which attacks Ukraine with winged, supersonic and controlled missiles, as well as gliders of airbots, reports The Independent, citing a report of the Council of Economic Security of Ukraine (Reba).

Russia also used these planes to strike in the west of Ukraine, located far from the front line. According to the publication, fuel additives are not used for military purposes from the outset and help protect the engines of aircraft - both commercial and combat - from wear and tear. India exports them to many countries, including the US, and has never been accused of any violations. However, Reba indicates that Russia uses these additives for military purposes.

The investigation, the results of the Independent, found that Indian companies are responsible for almost half of the total amount of fuel additives imported by Moscow, which is one third of the total value. "Russia imported at least 2456. 36 tons of Indian fuel additives worth $ 12 956 088. 62, which was almost half of the total import (49. 58%)," the report said.

The most significant export product was the Indian company Perfect Traders and Moulders Private Ltd, the supplier of petrochemical products, as well as air spare parts and equipment, which supplied 1885 tons of fuel additives. Another Indian chemical manufacturer, Thermax Limited, has produced and sold 287 tons of its additives to the Russian importer Karon LLC for $ 1. 3 million.

Russia's military-air fleet has about 70 Su-34 and Su-35C, which were used for blows in Ukraine throughout the war, as the analytical center found out. These two battle aircraft depend largely on imported fuel additives. After increasing the attacks of Ukrainian drones on Russian refineries, the demand for fuel additives in the Russian Federation began to grow, said Elena Yurchenko, director of analysis, investigations and research of Reba.

In the meantime, India does not see anything wrong with exporting additives, stating that they can be used in civil aviation. "[But] we know that Russia uses most of the fuel to meet its military needs, since its internal civil aviation is in a difficult situation due to sanctions and lack of international flights," Yurchenko stressed.