India's HPCL-Mittal Energy ceases Russian oil purchases

The Financial Times report said it was unclear whether the refiner, which is partly owned by steel tycoon Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, was aware of the vessels being used.

HMEL said the cargo was sold to the company on a delivered basis, meaning it would not be aware of the specific ships used for transporting the crude, nor any actions by those ships to obscure their location.